Toys For Tots!

Toys for Tots is a donation program set up by the U.S. Marines, where Good Samaritans like yourselves can recycle your old toys or buy new toys and donate them to underpriviledged children. This program all began with a man by the name of Major Bill Hendricks, USMCR and a group of Marine Reservists in 1947. Together, they collected and distributed 5,000 toys to needy children. Today, there are nearly 20,000 Marines, Marine Corps League members, veteran Marines and volunteers involved in annual campaigns. The motto then and still today is to "bring the joy of Christmas to America's needy children." To read more about the origin of this foundation you can visit, http://www.toysfortots.org/about_toys_for_tots/toys_for_tots_program/origin_and_evolution.asp

The primary goal of the Foundation is the same as that of the overall Toys for Tots program: i.e. - to deliver, through a shiny new toy at Christmas, a message of hope to needy youngsters that will motivate them to grow into responsible, productive, patriotic citizens and community leaders. And as for the monetary aspect, from 1991 - 2005, the Toys for Tots supplemented local toy collections with 64.5 million toys with the overall worth of $344 million. Also, Toys for Tots provided over $3.9 million worth of promotion and support materials, which enable local Toys for Tots coordinators to conduct more effective local campaigns. (http://www.toysfortots.org/about_toys_for_tots/toys_for_tots_foundation/default.asp)

So, this holiday season if you are looking to be a Good Samaritan and brighten up Christmas for a child in need, think about donating to the Toys for Tots Foundation. It it a good way to not only be a Good Samaritan, but also be patriotic while doing so. Some sponsors of Toys for Tots are the Dr. Phil Show, Google, Toys R Us, Disney etc. To see a lit of more corporate sponsors or for the location of where you can drop off toys check out http://www.toysfortots.org/corporate_sponsors/national_corporate_event_sponsors/default.asp?year=2007&type=Corporate