Alaska Airlines, together with the U.S. Marine Corps and Alaska Toys for Tots, is shipping nearly 15,000 pounds of toys across the state of Alaska this holiday season. From Southeast Alaska to the Arctic Circle, this year’s shipment marks the largest gathering and delivery of toys for children in the history of the Toys for Tots program in Alaska.

Alaska Airlines has supported Alaska Toys for Tots for the last ten years, shipping toys collected in local communities throughout the state of Alaska. Since 2006, Alaska Airlines captain Tom Sharkey has coordinated the shipment from Anchorage to outlying communities.

“Alaska Air Cargo is honored to continue our annual partnership with the Marine Corps in the Toys for Tots program,” said Jason Berry, Alaska Airlines‘ managing director for cargo. “It brings us all great joy to know we play a small part in helping deliver toys to children across the entire state of Alaska during the holidays. I couldn’t be more proud of the effort the entire Alaska Airlines team puts in to this wonderful program.”

This year’s shipment is the airline’s largest and covers most of the state. “Many young Alaskans will experience the joy and spirit of Christmas when they receive a toy from Santa,” said Sharkey.

This year, Alaska Airlines is shipping toys from Anchorage to hubs in Kotzebue, Cordova, Nome, Bethel, and Ketchikan. From there, toys will be distributed locally and to surrounding villages by the U.S. Marines and the Alaska Air National Guard. Toys are also being collected and distributed to children in Anchorage and the surrounding areas.

“Every child near and far deserves a Christmas,” said Sgt. Mauricio Sandoval, of the U.S. Marine Corps. “In a state as vast as Alaska, the success of the Toys for Tots program relies heavily on coordination with our partners.”