COMMUNITY News:
The HMS Implacable, the Los Alamos Chapter of the Royal Manticoran Navy, has started this year’s
annual Doreen M. Gunkel Memorial Toys for Tots drive. The Drive will run through Saturday, Dec. 6, culminating with the “Fill the Float!” entry in this year’s Holiday Lights parade.
This year the officers and crew of HMS Implacable hope to help Los Alamos exceed last year’s record donation of 3,250 toys!
The officers and crew of HMS Implacable ask everyone who is able to please donate a new, unwrapped toy to bring a message of hope to less fortunate youngsters.
Toys for Tots does not publish a list of appropriate toys to donate. If such a list were created, most
would follow it, resulting in a limited selection of items to distribute in each community. It is preferred that donors consider what might be an appropriate gift for their own child or relative, purchase the item, and donate to Toys for Tots.
Toys for Tots does not accept realistic looking weapons, clothing, or gifts with food. It also cannot
accept used, open, or expired toys, nor liquid products like lotion or toothpaste. (NERF guns are
acceptable donations for Toys for Tots, provided they are new, unwrapped, and not realistic in
appearance.)
In addition to the manned collection station every weekend at Smith’s Marketplace, HMS Implacable has set up remote collection boxes throughout Los Alamos and White Rock. For convenience people can find one of these collections stations at Smith’s Marketplace, Metzger’s Hardware in both White Rock and Los Alamos, Papa John’s Pizza, Muy Salsa!, Ruby K’s Bagel Café, Wolf and Mermaid Enchanted Café, Starbucks, Smoke Vibez, Holiday Inn Express & Suites, VFW Post 9974, American Legion Post 90, Mesa Top Games and Toys, White Rock Toys & Gaming, Anytime Fitness, and Los Alamos Cooperative Market.
More locations will be added as they are requested.
Toys for Tots is a national charity organized by the United States Marines Corps Reserve. Its goal is
to deliver, through a new toy at Christmas, a message of hope to less fortunate youngsters that will
assist them in becoming responsible, productive, patriotic citizens. The United States Marine Corps
Reserve has been distributing toys to those in need since 1947. More information can be found at
www.toysfortots.org.
The Royal Manticoran Navy (www.trmn.org) is the official Honor Harrington fan association. It
celebrates the work of David Weber and the universe he has created in the Military Science Fiction
genre with his Honor Harrington book series. The Association’s structure is set up based on the
examples in the books. Members of the organization advance their service and leadership skills by
participating in community services and charitable events.
HMS Implacable is the “ship” that houses the local chapter of the Royal Manticoran Navy based in
Los Alamos. The crew includes personnel from Los Amos, Santa Fe, Española, Chimayo, Farmington,
Peralta and Montezuma. In addition to their annual Toys for Tots program, HMS Implacable’s crew
cleans the grounds and places flags and Christmas wreaths at the Santa Fe National Cemetery,
participates in the Big Brothers & Big Sisters “Bowl for Kid’s Sake” campaign, as well as working
with Habitat for Humanity.
For more information about the Royal Manticoran Navy or HMS Implacable contact Bill Knight at
co@hmsimplacable.trmn.org or on the HMS Implacable Facebook page.
