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The History
The U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program began in 1947 in Los Angeles, CA., with the efforts of Major Bill Hendricks (USMCR) who, noticing there was no charity which distributed toys to deserving children during the traditional Christmas season, collected and distributed more than 5,000 toys to children in the Los Angeles area that first year. Since then, the Toys for Tots Program has grown into a nationwide effort, coordinated by U.S. Marines, to help disadvantaged children learn the meaning of holiday giving through the gift of a new, unwrapped toy.
The Toys for Tots Program has through its history depended on the support of communities, businesses and charitable organizations across the country. The program has also benefited from numerous celebrity spokespersons from the entertainment industry, including such notables as John Wayne, Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra, George Harrison, Johnny Carson, Charlton Hasten, Sammy Davis Jr., Doris Day, Brooke Shields, Charlie Daniels, Barbara Eden, Ann Margaret, Any Griffith, Glen Campbell, George Strait, Ricky Van Shelton, Tim Allen and most recently Rosie O'Donnell.
The Program
During the traditional holiday season U.S. Marines, with the support of their local community partners, stage Toys for Tots collection barrels at various sites, (for example, at participating business locations). Generous donors place new, unwrapped toys in these barrels. The barrels are collected periodically and transported to a central holding location, where the toys are examined and sorted by gender and age group. These toys are then provided to appropriate agencies, (including local government agencies, charitable groups, churches, etc.) who identify and distribute the toys to deserving children.
If you are interested in helping you can go to the How can I help? Page.
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