AAA New Mexico: Las Cruces and El Paso Offices Collecting for "Toys for Tots"

LAS CRUCES, NM and EL PASO, TX--(Marketwire - November 7, 2008) - The AAA New Mexico Las Cruces District Office and the AAA Texas El Paso District Office are teaming up with the "Toys for Tots" program to collect donations for the 2008 holiday season. The community is encouraged to drop their donations at the Las Cruces office, when it holds an open house this weekend, November 8, 2008 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.; or at the El Paso office open house the weekend of November 15, 2008 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

In addition to gathering donations at these weekend events, the Las Cruces District Office and the El Paso District Office will be serving each community as a drop-off point from today through December 5. The "Toys for Tots" 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 we could offer in the community, and we are proud to support an organization that has established itself as a leader in reaching needy children," said New Mexico Regional Manager Ana Gonzalez. "We encourage the community to drop 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 Corps Reserve Major Bill Hendricks and his wife recognized a need for this service 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 distributed toys and educational materials to 4,000 children, and nationwide it reached more than 7 million children.

The community is welcome to drop off donations at the Las Cruces and El Paso 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. Cash donations for El Paso "Toys for Tots" can be mailed to First Sergeant Alejandro Rivera at 4810 Pollard Street, El Paso, Texas 79930 or by calling: 915-566-8697 x274.

As North America's largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 51 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. AAA New Mexico can be visited on the internet at www.AAA.com.

Contact Information: Contacts: Dan Ronan Statewide/Dallas Ronan.dan@aaa-texas.com danronan@sprint.blackberry.net 469-221-8217 office 469-583-7070 cell Sarah Schimmer Houston Schimmer.sarah@aaa-texas.com 713-284-6552 office 281-797-7886 cell