Local Woman Driven to Make Kids Happy During Holidays

Marilyn K. Dorlac's 5th Annual Christmas Annual Toy Drive, and Fundraiser For the Needy Children was huge success

It was evident during the recent holiday season that Marilyn Dorlac is someone with a gracious personality and a big heart for the less privileged children and families.

Dorlac cites Christmas as her favorite time of the season. "It takes me back to my own child- hood, when I was a little girl of 9, there was six of us and not enough money to go around at Christmas time," she recalled "I remember when I would go with my dad to the City dump to dump a load of trash."

However last December, it was Dorlac doing most of the collected and dumping and it wasn't trash.

Her one woman Christmas toy drive was instrumental in collecting and delivering thousands of gifts to girls and boys throughout Southern California and while most of the recipients were excited, she was just as happy to be giving.

She said it reminded her of the time when she was a child and one of her father's co-workers would, " allow for me to get new Mattel toys from the dump site before they were buried."

"I could not believe what I saw." I just thought to myself why bury them? I Couldn't they just give the toys to kids who needed them?"

"I remembered, as I stared at the dolls and other toys salvaged, that I would give toys or money to needy children one day," Dorlac added So in 2004 she began her very own toy drive by soliciting from local businesses and asking fro donations door to door .

As popularity grew about her Christmas Toy Drive and Fundraiser, Dorlac says she began receiving financial donations to support her cause that allowed for her to pay for printing of flyers and postage to mail out information.

"I just had to do it all myself it seemed for the first few years, to make sure that it was done just right. Finally this year everyone started jumping on board, and the out pouring of support still brings tears to my eyes just thinking about how people can reach out and touch another persons heart," she stated.

While out distributing fliers in the Carson community for about five or six hours, a woman approached Dorlac and offered help.

The woman turned out to be a professor at Cal State Dominguez Hills and a partnership was formed.

Dorlac also produced a play that was written about the toy drive.

The Carson NAACP recognized her for her efforts and Carson Mayor Jim Dear also reportedly requested her help with other community events

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