Interstate Teams with Santa and His Helpers to Support the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve’s Toy for Tots Program

Interstate returns to Southeast DC Community Where Founder’s First Warehouse Opened in 1943

SPRINGFIELD, VA—Interstate Worldwide Relocation Services, a leading global provider of transportation, relocation, and logistics management solutions, is proud to continue its holiday tradition of giving back to the community for the 17th year in a row through the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve’s Toys for Tots program. The Marine Corps’ goal is to "bring the joy of Christmas to needy children". On Christmas Eve, Interstate’s employees took part in that goal by transporting and delivering toys to children living in the Barry Farms Community in Southeast Washington, D.C. 

Interstate distributed more than 2,000 toys and gifts to over 136 families and 600 children in the community.  Toys for Tots efforts have grown significantly during the years with over 30 million toys being distributed in the past four years alone. The Morrissette family opened Interstate’s first warehouse in Southeast Washington, DC in 1943, so the annual community tradition has significant meaning to the family and employees.

“There is no greater feeling than helping to make the holidays brighter for a child,” said Preston Charles, an Interstate Employee and (Santa).  “I was honored to spend my Christmas Eve morning making wishes come true for those less fortunate.”

“Not only was Interstate originally founded in Southeast Washington, DC, our family was born and raised in the community,” said Arthur E. “Buddy” Morrissette, chairman of the board at Interstate. He added, “The Barry Farms community holds a very special place in our hearts being one of our former neighbors. The community has gone through many trials and tribulations throughout the years but the residents have kept strong.”  Morrissette concluded, “If we can give shiny new toys to deserving children during the holiday season to let them know that someone cares, then that’s what it’s all about.”

For the past 17 years, Interstate has joined forces with the Barry Farms’ Resident Council in order to collect age-appropriate gifts for each child in participating families and delivering them on Christmas Eve.  Using doors rather than chimneys, dozens of Interstate employee volunteers assist as Santa’s Elves on Christmas Eve distributing toys with support from the DC Fire Department, DC Police Department, as well as the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves.

Interstate not only delivers to the Berry Farms’ community, but aides in the overall toy collection for the Toys for Tots program by providing moving trailers at drop-off sites throughout the Washington, DC metropolitan area, as well as at the Interstate corporate headquarters in Springfield, VA.

Interstate Worldwide Relocation

Established in 1943 and recognized for Top Hat Service, Interstate Worldwide Relocation is part of the Interstate family of companies encompassing a worldwide group of relocation management, transportation, and logistics management solutions serving government, corporate, and residential customers. Interstate is a $100+ million dollar enterprise employing more than 300 people and has an extensive 1,000+ global service partner network. Interstate distinguishes itself with key industry certifications, including ISO 9001:2000 for all entities and facilities, FAIM-ISO for International business, and numerous prestigious awards including the unprecedented 2006 6th Department of Defense SDDC Quality Award, nine 1st Place Fleet Safety awards from the American Moving and Storage Association, the National Capital Business Ethics award, as well as the Blue Diamond Quality First award. Interstate has a long history of community and philanthropic generosity including 17 years supporting the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve’s Toys for Tots program. For more information about the Interstate group of global companies, please call 800.745.6683, email info@invan.com or visit www.interstateworldwide.com.