The Marine Corps said on Friday its 2009 Toys for Tots Hawaii collection effort is in its third week, and has collected more than 14,000 toys and more than $14,000 to purchase toys to date. There are 10 days left in the collection drive with a goal to collect 45,000 toys for Hawaii's less-fortunate keiki.

Meanwhile, Wednesday night's second annual Na Mele o na Keiki (Music for the Children) Toys for Tots Holiday Concert at the Neil S. Blaisdell Concert Hall produced significant donations, the Marine Corps said. The free public concert featured the U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific Band; guest artists included Danny Kaleikini, Carole Kai, Anita Hall, Steve Hott, Jake Shimabukuro, Amy Hanaiali'i and Jim Nabors. The show drew a crowd estimated at more than 1,600, and netted more than 750 toys and more than $3,000 in cash donations.
The concert was put on as a thank-you to the community and was sponsored by U.S.
Marine Corps Forces Pacific and BAE Systems, a worldwide partner with the USO.
For information on toy drop-off sites, visit www.toysfortots.org/ and select Hawaii, or visit the Toys for Tots Hawaii Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Toys-for-Tots-Hawaii/92191513370.
Since 1996, Toys for Tots Hawaii has collected nearly 640,000 toys and more than $350,000 to purchase toys for distribution to nearly 400,000 Hawaii children.