In addition to gathering donations at these weekend events, the Las CrucesDistrict Office and the El Paso District Office will be serving eachcommunity as a drop-off point from today through December 5. The "Toys forTots" program is accepting new toys of any kind for any age group.

"Our AAA Las Cruces and El Paso offices recognized this is a service wecould offer in the community, and we are proud to support an organizationthat has established itself as a leader in reaching needy children," saidNew Mexico Regional Manager Ana Gonzalez. "We encourage the community todrop off new and unwrapped toys that will be distributed by 'Toys for Tots'during the holiday season."

"Toys for Tots" began 61 years ago in Los Angeles when U.S. Marine CorpsReserve Major Bill Hendricks and his wife recognized a need for thisservice in their own community and founded the organization. In 1948,"Toys for Tots" expanded into a nationwide campaign.

Last year the Las Cruces "Toys for Tots" program collected and distributedtoys and educational materials to 4,000 children, and nationwide it reachedmore than 7 million children.

The community is welcome to drop off donations at the Las Cruces and ElPaso offices through December 5.

Any cash donations for the Las Cruces area can be mailed to: Las Cruces"Toys for Tots," P.O. Box 7214, Las Cruces, New Mexico, 88006. Cashdonations for El Paso "Toys for Tots" can be mailed to First SergeantAlejandro Rivera at 4810 Pollard Street, El Paso, Texas 79930 or bycalling: 915-566-8697 x274.

As North America's largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAAprovides more than 51 million members with travel, insurance, financial andautomotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, thenot-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for thesafety and security of all travelers. AAA New Mexico can be visited on theinternet at www.AAA.com.