The mission of the U. S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program is to collect new, unwrapped toys during October, November and December each year, and distribute those toys as Christmas gifts to less fortunate children in the community.
We enjoy supporting Toys for Tots mission in our own community by being a drop off site. We want to help them spread the joy of the holiday season with those who are less fortunate.
Toys for Tots began in 1947, when Major Bill Hendricks, USMCR and a group of Marine Reservists in Los Angeles collected and distributed 5,000 toys to needy children. The idea came form Bill’s wife, Diane. In the fall of 1947, Diane crafted a homemade doll and asked Bill to deliver the doll to an organization, which would give it to a needy child at Christmas. When Bill determined that no agency existed, Diane told Bill that he should start one and he did. The 1947 pilot project was so successful that the Marine Corps adopted Toys for Tots in 1948 and expanded it into a nationwide campaign.
Over its life span, the Marine Toys for Tots Program distributed over 469 million toys to over 216 million less fortunate children.
If you are thinking about donating, please consider a gift for the teen or pre-teen age group. In the past, items purchased for these groups have included: sporting equipment/bags/balls; books, backpacks, cosmetics, purses, watch/wallet gift sets, bath gift sets, board games, radio control cars/trucks, hand-held electronics, skateboards/helmets, curling irons, hair straighteners, and hair dryers.
We love to continue to support the great work of this organization. Stop by Apollo and drop off your donations today!
Learn more about Toys for Tots: http://www.toysfortots.org/