Long & Foster Real Estate, the No. 1 independent residential real estate company in the United States, has announced that its Philly Center City office launched its annual toy drive to benefit the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots campaign on Nov. 4, 2014. Toys may be dropped off seven days a week between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. at Long & Foster’s Philly Center City office, located at 170 S. 6^th St., Suite L-10 in Philadelphia. All donations must be made before Dec. 10.

“Our team of real estate professionals is honored to contribute to the Toys for Tots initiative, and we’re thrilled that we can give our fellow community members a convenient location to make their donations,” said Camilo Concepcion, manager of the Philly Center City office. “It’s wonderful to know that simply by collecting toys throughout the holiday season, we can help ensure that less fortunate children in our area receive some holiday cheer this year.”

Long & Foster offices throughout the Mid-Atlantic region are participating in the Toys for Tots donation drive. This year marks the company’s 24^th year participating in the holiday collection campaign. Between now and mid-December, each of Long & Foster’s more than 180 sales offices throughout seven states and the District of Columbia will accept toy donations. Long & Foster employees at the company’s home office in Chantilly, Va., will also participate in the annual holiday campaign.

“Giving back to the various communities in which we live and work is a top priority for all employees and real estate professionals with Long & Foster, and that’s why we participate in the Toys for Tots drive year after year,” said Jeffrey S. Detwiler, president and chief operating officer of The Long & Foster Companies. “The U.S. Marines have built a tremendous program with Toys for Tots, and our employees, agents and their clients appreciate—and enjoy—the opportunity to share the holiday spirit with children who might not receive anything otherwise.”

Once the toys are collected and presented to the U.S. Marines, they are distributed through churches and social welfare agencies to the neediest children throughout the community. Started by the U.S. Marines in 1947, the Toys for Tots campaign is an annual toy collecting drive that now reaches throughout 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico.

Last year, the Marines distributed more than 16.8 million toys to nearly 7 million children. Long & Foster contributed to this effort by collecting thousands of new toys throughout the company’s Mid-Atlantic footprint in 2013. For information on this year’s Toys for Tots Campaign, call the Philly Center City office at 215-409-6900 or visit www.toysfortots.org.