Barbie dolls, Matchbox cars, soccer balls and Candy Land board games filled a seven-ton truck from Joint Base Lewis-McChord on Dec. 8 as Boeing employees from the Auburn site donated thousands of toys to the U.S. Marines’ Toys for Tots program.

More than 2,900 toys were collected during three shifts as part of the company’s Spirit of the Holidays drive, which includes this first-time partnership with the Marines’ Toys for Tots holiday program.

“We have great people with big hearts who want to give and contribute to the communities in which they live and work,” said Larry Coughlin, Boeing Auburn site director. “I saw lots of smiles as people delivered their contributions. Events like these also help us to build our own sense of community, which we’re calling the Spirit of Auburn.”

Forklifts, wheeled carts and even a makeshift plywood sleigh, built by employees, delivered the toys and books and bikes to the Marine truck parked outside the Auburn plant’s cafeteria. Boeing has a Puget Sound regional goal to collect 10,000 toys during the Toys for Tots drive which ends Dec. 23.

The efforts were organized by Boeing’s Global Corporate Citizenship (GCC) Northwest organization. GCC refers to the work that Boeing does in its diverse communities, both as a company and individual employees. The economic well-being of the Pacific Northwest region and the vibrancy of its communities are foundational components to the region’s long-term health and viability. Last year Boeing contributed more than $20 million to organizations in Northwest communities where employees work and live.