Tina Coulson, store manager of Great Beginnings Baby & Kids of Chantilly, is conducting a Toys for Tots campaign with the U.S. Marine Corps from now through Dec. 21 at the store located at 13920-B Lee Jackson Memorial Highway (Route 50) in the Sully Plaza Shopping Center.
"I just want to help. I'm very simple that way. It's a great cause and I want to support it," said Coulson of Centreville, who has managed the store for two years. Customers can drop off new, unwrapped toys for boys and girls of all ages during store hours.
If customers "like" them on Facebook (facebook.com/greatbeginnings) or sign up for email on their website (www.greatbeginnings.com), they'll receive a coupon for 20 percent off their purchase. They can use it for toys, clothing, furniture, or other stuff. "This will allow someone to purchase a toy and save 20 percent if they want to donate it to Toys for Tots," said Coulson.
Great Beginnings is also acting as a "hub" for other Toys for Tots, which means other stores can drop off their donations at the Chantilly shop, and Coulson is responsible for getting them down to the Marine Corps location in Dumfries.
Great Beginnings is a 22,000-square-foot specialty store that carries products geared to new babies, such as strollers, car seats, general accessories and baby and children's furniture -- anything new parents may need.
The store also gives a 10 percent military discount. Call 571-512-4280.
"Having lived in this area my entire life, it just made sense to me. It was the right thing to do," said Coulson of the toy drive.