For many people, the words “Marine Corps League” immediately bring to mind one of the most recognizable holiday giving programs in the country: Toys for Tots. In St. Johns County, the connection is a strong one. Each year, members of the Marine Corps League Oldest City Detachment No. 383 help collect toys, raise money, coordinate donation boxes and support the distribution network that places Christmas gifts in the hands of children and families in need.
But the local Marines behind those familiar white collection boxes want the community to know something important. Toys for Tots may be their best-known service project, but it is far from their only one.
The Oldest City Detachment is part of a national veterans service organization built around fellowship, patriotism and continued service. The Marine Corps League gives Marines, Fleet Marine Force Navy personnel, veterans, family members and supporters a way to stay connected to the traditions of the Corps while serving the needs of veterans, military families, youth and the broader community.
In St. Augustine, that mission has been carried locally for nearly 50 years.
A National Mission, Carried Locally
The Marine Corps League is a federally chartered organization with a mission rooted in preserving the traditions of the United States Marine Corps, strengthening fellowship among Marines, supporting Marines and qualified Navy personnel, and encouraging patriotic volunteerism. For those who have served, the League offers something that can be hard to replace after military life ends: camaraderie, structure and a continued sense of purpose.
David Vara, a Marine Corps veteran and member of the Oldest City Detachment, said the League helps fill a meaningful space for Marines after active duty, retirement or separation.
“Once our active duty is over, either through retirement or just separation, the Marine Corps League offers a group to continue to belong to, to support our fellow Marines and fellow veterans,” Vara said. In simple terms, he said, the League is a group of people who dedicate their volunteer time to fundraising, fellowship and support for veterans and their families.
The Oldest City Detachment brings that national mission into St. Augustine and St. Johns County. Founded in 1977, the local detachment serves Marines, Fleet Marine Force Navy personnel and their families while also supporting the larger community through service projects, fundraisers and youth programs.
The Local Detachment
Officially known as Marine Corps League Oldest City Detachment No. 383, the St. Augustine group meets monthly at Elks Lodge No. 829 on A1A South. The formal detachment meeting takes place on the first Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m., though members may also gather separately depending on the volunteer projects, committees or fundraising efforts they are involved in. The monthly meeting is primarily a business meeting, Vara said. Members review what the detachment has done, discuss upcoming needs and track funds carefully. Because the group raises and distributes money throughout the year, transparency is a key part of how the detachment operates.
But the heart of the organization, Vara said, is not just the business of fundraising. It is the fellowship. For Marines, that bond is difficult to describe and even harder to replace.
“There’s no tighter group of military personnel than the Marines,” Vara said. “We’re brothers for life. And that’s not just a statement. That’s a fact.”
That sense of brotherhood is one of the reasons the detachment is working to increase awareness locally. Vara said he has met Marines in the community who know Toys for Tots, but do not realize there is an active Marine Corps League detachment in St. Augustine.
“The number one thing I hear, and it’s sad, is, ‘I didn’t even know there was a Marine Corps League,’” Vara said.
That awareness gap matters because more members and volunteers mean more people to help with fundraising, community outreach, youth support and veteran-focused initiatives.
Toys for Tots: The Familiar Mission
Toys for Tots remains the detachment’s most visible community project, and in St. Johns County, it is a significant undertaking. Vara was recently selected to serve as the St. Johns County Toys for Tots coordinator, following Bill Nantz, who served in the role for 14 years and continues to support the effort. Nantz also serves as the detachment commandant. The program serves families in need throughout the community, not only military or veteran families. Families can apply to receive toys, while businesses, organizations and residents can register to donate, host collection boxes or contribute financially.
According to Vara, last year’s local Toys for Tots effort set a record in St. Johns County. While he noted the exact numbers should be confirmed, he estimated that the effort collected approximately 28,000 toys, supported thousands of families and raised close to $50,000 in cash donations.
The reach also extends beyond St. Johns County. Because not every surrounding county has its own Marine Corps League detachment, other communities sometimes rely on the Oldest City Detachment’s collection efforts to help meet regional need. Vara recalled Putnam County representatives arriving with multiple sheriff’s vehicles and trailers to pick up toys for distribution.
“We are the primary collector, but we’re not always the primary distributor,” Vara said.
The Toys for Tots season typically begins in the fall, with online registration opening around early October for families seeking assistance and for businesses or individuals who want to donate. Collection efforts continue into December, but Vara said waiting until the holiday rush is often too late.
That is why the detachment hopes to raise awareness earlier in the season, not only among families who may need help, but among local businesses, civic groups and residents who may want to support the effort by hosting a collection box, giving financially or volunteering.
Beyond the Toy Boxes
While Toys for Tots is the program many residents recognize, the Oldest City Detachment’s work continues throughout the year. One major area of focus is youth support, especially local high school ROTC programs. Vara said the detachment donates scholarships each year, depending on fundraising capacity, and supports students involved in ROTC and other youth leadership efforts.
He described the students at Tocoi Creek High School as especially dedicated, noting that the school has been highly involved in Toys for Tots collections and has been recognized by the detachment for its efforts.
The detachment also raises funds for veteran-focused causes, including organizations such as Florida Injured Warriors Fund and Homes For Our Troops. Unlike Toys for Tots, which has a more defined seasonal window, many of the detachment’s other fundraising efforts are ongoing throughout the fiscal year. Members may hold or support multiple events, then distribute funds based on the needs and priorities identified by the organization.
The common thread is service. For Vara, that is the part of the League that resonates most deeply. It is not only about helping veterans. It is also about giving Marines and supporters a meaningful way to serve their community together.
“When you can be a part of serving your community, that’s a feeling in your heart that’s second to none,” he said.
Membership Is Not Only for Marines
Although the Marine Corps League is rooted in Marine Corps tradition, the Oldest City Detachment is also open to associate members. That means residents do not have to be Marines to get involved. Veterans from other military branches, family members, civilians and community supporters may also join as associates and help support the detachment’s mission. Vara said the local detachment currently includes more than 40 Marines, along with associate members. But the need for volunteers continues to grow.
The group is especially interested in reaching prior Marines who may not know the detachment exists, as well as military supporters who are looking for a practical way to serve. More volunteers can help expand the detachment’s fundraising capacity, increase Toys for Tots collections, support more youth scholarships and strengthen veteran-focused outreach across the region.
“We don’t restrict them to just prior Marine Corps history,” Vara said. “It’s anybody who wants to support their community.”
The invitation is simple: attend a meeting, meet the members and learn where help is needed.
A Place to Belong
For Vara, the mission is also personal. He joined the Marine Corps in 1977, two weeks after graduating from high school. He served in aviation as an aircraft mechanic, played football and track for Marine Corps teams, and traveled to Japan, Korea and the Philippines during his time in service. After four years of active duty and two years in the reserves, he went on to spend nearly 50 years in aviation maintenance, recently retiring from Southwest Airlines. When he speaks to students, he often shares that military service can open doors for young people who may not yet know their career path.
“Sometimes we don’t know what our career path is, but we can’t sit at home,” Vara said. “If you don’t have a course for continuing education, the military is a great avenue.”
He also reminds students that military service includes many career fields beyond the narrow assumptions people sometimes carry. “There are so many things to do,” he said. “You’re going to find what makes you happy.”
That same belief in purpose carries into his work with the Marine Corps League. The detachment gives Marines a place to reconnect, gives veterans a way to continue serving and gives local residents a way to support military families and community needs in a tangible way.
For some, it begins with Toys for Tots. For others, it may begin with a scholarship fundraiser, an ROTC event, a veteran support initiative or a monthly meeting at the Elks Lodge. But the invitation is the same.
The Marine Corps League Oldest City Detachment No. 383 is looking for Marines, veterans, military families and civilian supporters who want to be part of something larger than themselves. The invitation is open: come to a meeting, meet the members and find a place to serve.
