A familiar sign of the holiday season is the iconic white and red Toys for Tots donation bin. But have you ever wondered what happens to your toy after you drop it off, or how you can play a larger role in bringing Christmas joy to a child in need?
About Toys for Tots
The Marine Toys for Tots Program’s mission is simple yet powerful: to collect new, unwrapped toys and distribute them to economically disadvantaged children for Christmas. Their goal is to bring holiday joy and deliver a message of hope to children who need it most.
Founded in 1947 by Major Bill Hendricks and his wife, Toys for Tots has grown into a nationwide movement. Since its beginning, the organization has distributed over 708 million toys to more than 314 million children across the United States.
The Program’s Journey
- Collection: Volunteers and local businesses set up collection boxes for toy donations.
- Coordination: Marine Corps Reserve units and local organizations manage the campaigns, which take place in over 800 communities.
- Sorting and Distribution: Collected toys are sorted and then distributed to children identified by local social welfare agencies.
Collection
Local toy collection campaigns begin in October and last until mid to late December. You can then submit a request to become a drop-off site directly through the local chapter’s website, which each chapter manages independently. From there, community members drop off toy donations to their local drop-off site.
Coordination
At Christmas, Coordinators, with the assistance of local social welfare agencies, church groups, and other local community agencies, distribute the toys to the economically disadvantaged children of the community. Over the years, Marines and Volunteer Coordinators have established close working relationships with social welfare agencies, churches and other local community agencies which are well qualified to identify the children in need in the community and play important roles in the distribution of the toys.
Sorting and Distribution
Volunteers, including those on #TeamDiRAD, sort donated toys by age and gender. Each child receives a bag of ten carefully selected gifts, which are labeled, packed, and loaded onto trucks for delivery.
While Toys for Tots Coordinators organize, coordinate, and manage the campaign, the ultimate success depends on the support of the local community and the generosity of the people who donate and volunteer!
#TeamDiRAD encourages everyone to explore opportunities with their local Toys for Tots chapter, whether through donating toys, hosting a collection box, volunteering at a warehouse, or helping with distribution efforts.
Together, we can help ensure every child experiences the joy of Christmas.
Merry Christmas to all! Learn more or find your local chapter: https://www.toysfortots.org/