By Candy Alexis Feliciano
For Variety
THE holiday season in the CNMI has always been about more than just decorations; it is about the spirit of a community that refuses to let economic hurdles dim the joy of its children. This year, that spirit was on full display as the 2025 Toys for Tots Campaign concluded its mission on December 19, proving once again that in the Marianas, it truly takes a village.
While the campaign is a long-standing tradition, organizers emphasized that the 2025 success was a massive collaborative effort. Kimm Camacho, executive director of the Saipan Chamber of Commerce, noted that the achievement belongs to the entire community of partners and donors.
“This year’s campaign was a huge success, from community outreach to community support,” Camacho shared. “With the support of the community we were able to collect enough toys to meet our agency requests as well as conduct a walk-thru toy drive.”
In total, the campaign gathered 2,837 toys. Of those, 1,256 went to agencies like Karidat, the Division of Youth Services, and the Salvation Army, while 1,581 were handed out to the general public. Despite the challenges of the current year, the goal remained simple: making sure every child felt the magic of Christmas.
On distribution day, the atmosphere was electric. For the children waiting in line, the gift was only half the excitement — the other half was the hero delivering it.
“The atmosphere was very magical,” Camacho recalled. “The children were not only excited about receiving a free toy but they were excited to be handed a toy by a Marine in uniform. Seeing the faces on the little kids as they receive their gift is truly memorable and makes this cause even more wholesome.”
She noted that the impact is particularly deep given the current local climate. “As you know, the CNMI has its fair challenges economically and it is a domino effect that trickles down to the children and to see how bright their faces light up once they got handed a toy was just amazing to witness. We serve children 0-18, and to see teenagers light up too when receiving a gift was a nice sight to see and is a friendly reminder that even 16-18-year-olds still appreciate gift giving.”
The 2025 campaign relied on a network of partners who stepped up to handle everything from funding to heavy lifting. Several key contributors made the logistics possible:
• Marianas Mobil: Provided a $1,000 annual monetary donation to help meet the campaign’s goals.
• CTSI Logistics: Sponsored the vital shipping fees to transport toys from Guam to the CNMI for the past two years.
• J.C. Enterprises, Inc.: Hosted the “Ring-a-Bell” Saturday events at Joeten stores throughout October and November.
Beyond the corporate support, the campaign’s core strength came from a united front of organizations. “I’d like to say that all partners are instrumental,” Camacho said. “Our collaborating partners include the U.S. Marine Corps Camp Blaz, the Commonwealth Bureau of Military Affairs, the SCC Armed Forces Committee, the Marianas Alliance of Non-Government Organizations, and Project BuddyCheck 670. Everyone played a pivotal role in the success of this year’s campaign.”
When asked what this level of participation says about Saipan today, Camacho pointed to the island’s cultural strength.
“It tells me that our One-Marianas spirit still resides inside all of us,” she said. “Despite our economic challenges and busy lives, we as a community still find ways to support our youth and I believe that truly speaks volumes to our cultural resilience in the CNMI.”
As the final toys were handed out, the long-term vision for the 2025 Toys for Tots Campaign remains focused on unity and community impact. “We see the impact it provides for the community and after a long year of challenges, this campaign lightens the heart of our community and truly brings us all together,” Camacho concluded.
