Local man wins national Toys for Tots award

Polson's Ed Holland of the Marine Corps League Hellroaring Detachment received national recognition for his volunteer efforts in Lake County recently when he was selected as one of two winners for "Coordinator of the Year" out of 343 Local Community Organizations by the Marine's Toys for Tots Foundation.

Tammy Weatherholtz, Toys for Tots accounting specialist, explained that when it came down to selecting a winner, Holland was an easy pick. There is a regional winner and a national winner, and Holland won both.

She said that the panel sometimes quibbles over who should be selected but "with Ed Holland, there wasn't a lot of fighting."

"It's pretty overwhelming," said Holland, "overwhelming to the point that it is humbling."

Toys for Tots volunteer Barbara Devore urged people to write letters of recommendation with the goal of getting Holland honored as a regional winner.

"We were going for regional just for a little bit of recognition, but he got national!" said Devore.

"The letters said he was dedicated and that he always gives 110 percent. That shows in his work," Weatherholtz said.

Last Christmas, more than 1,000 Lake County children received toys because of the efforts of Holland and volunteers like him. He introduced the program in Lake County five years ago in conjunction with the Share the Spirit program.

"As a retired Marine, he is very energetic and determined that no kid goes without Christmas," said Toni Young with Share the Spirit. "He was very gung-ho on getting as many toys as possible. He made sure kids got exactly what they wanted," within reason, she said.

Holland is invited to the Coordinators Conference in Washington D.C. in the first part of September where he is to receive a Toys for Tots plaque, a Marine Toys for Tots Foundation Founders Medallion, a $500 savings bond, a Letter of Commendation from the Marine Toys for Tots President and a Certificate of Commendation from the Marine Forces Reserve Commander.

However, there is a chance he might not be able to make it. Last December, he left for Wisconsin to wait for a lung transplant. It'll be up to medical professionals to decide if he can attend, he explained. He was diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis in 1998 and has been on oxygen since 2004.

"He's at the top of the list," said his wife Jane. "But he has to wait for the correct blood type and size match."

While he left the area, he didn't leave his work behind him. He kept in touch with volunteers and continued to handle affairs for Toys for Tots from Wisconsin.

Prior to leaving, he made sure everything was in place so volunteers could continue efficiently in his absence.

"As he was leaving town last December, he was checking in on businesses to see if they needed anything, making sure the [drop off baskets] were in place and shaking the owners' hands and thanking them for their help," Devore said.

"I told the Marines in the League 'The bins are out, the advertisements are out, you are going to have to take it from there.' Those guys did a great job. My grandkids, wife and children all helped," he said.

Prior to leaving, he scouted the area for a place where toys could be stored. He thanked Eagle Bank for donating their basement as a base of operations.

"We needed a certain amount of space and I found the basement in the bank, but it was really just a matter of everybody nodding 'yes' instead of 'no,'" he said.

He also recruited the help of the Polson, Ronan and Charlo fire departments to deliver the toys last December.

"They would show up in full uniform and drop off the toys," said Devore.

Holland insists that the community is an equal part of the honor.

"That's what community is all about. It is the community that puts things together," Holland said. "They are the ones that should be getting the recognition. I'm honored to receive the award, but it is the community that needs to be told 'Good job.'"