For 62 Years the Marine Corps Reserve has collected toys for needy kids at Christmas time.
While everyone is gearing up for the holidays, news is coming that most shoppers are planning to cut way back this year on their holiday purchases, choosing instead to give smaller, cheaper presents and only for immediate family or friends.
And while retailers’ profits usually live and die with holiday gift giving, so do yuletide charities like Toys for Tots. For never in it’s nearly 62 year history has the term “Semper Fidelis” (always faithful) never meant so much than during the holidays.
Created in 1947 by Marine Corps Major Bill Hendricks and a cadre of reservists in Los Angeles, Toys for Toys collected and distributed 5,000 toys for needy kids.
Since then, the United States Marines across the nation and around the world have been collecting unwrapped toys worth at least $10 to distribute to needy kids at Christmas time. In the beginning, he Marines collected both new and used toys, but beginning with the Christmas in 1980, they have only collected new, unwrapped toys for distribution.
And with time, the Marines courted famous names to further their cause, even Walt Disney has the honor of being the designer of the Toys for Tots train logo. But also big names like John Wayne, Doris Day, Tim Allen, and even former First Lady Nancy Reagan have devoted considerable time and clout to helping the Marines accomplish their mission of giving every needy child a toy for Christmas.
And it’s grown far beyond and extra curricular activity for off duty Marines. In 1995, the Secretary of Defense approved making the annual Toys for Tots drive an official mission of the Marine Corps Reserve.
Over the last 62 years, the US Marine Corps Reserve have distributed over 400 million toys to more than 188 million needy children and the Marine Corps Toys for Tots Foundation has added to the toy collections by purchasing nearly a half billion dollars in toys to insure that no child gets left behind at Christmas.
And once again, the Marines need your help. If you’d like to join the effort, contact the US Marines by visiting Toys for Tots Foundation website, where you can find out information on where to drop off a toy, make a donation, or even request a toy for a needy child. You can even make a request to have the Marines arrive at a company or private party to collect toys for a fundraiser.
No matter how strained the economy gets, there will always be a child looking for the Magic of Christmas, and the Marines are always there to make sure that Magic arrives with a toy so they can say Mission Accomplished.
So even though money’s tight this year, don’t forget when you’re out picking up toys for the kids, to get an unwrapped toy worth at least $10 and give it to the Marines. You’ll be glad you did.
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