As the holidays are upon us and planning for Christmas arrives, it’s also time to think about doing something special for children  in need. The U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program is again under way, giving local residents an opportunity to  purchase a toy for a boy and girl outside their family.

Toys for Tots started more than 60 years ago when Maj. Bill Hendricks, USMCR, and a group of Marine reservists in Los Angeles collected and distributed more than 5,000 toys to needy children. Hendricks’ idea caught on and was so successful that the Marine Corps adopted Toys for Tots the following year and expanded it into a nationwide program. In 1995, the Secretary of Defense approved Toys for Tots as an official activity of the U.S. Marine Corps and an official mission of the Marine Corps
Reserve.

Today, Toys for Tots is the Marine Corps’ premier community action program and one of the nation’s flagship Christmas charitable causes. Toys for Tots is the only charitable endeavor within the Department of Defense which reaches outside the military establishment to give something back to the communities. Toys for Tots has enjoyed over a half century of success because of the support of millions of caring Americans, local communities, and corporate America plus the dedication and hard work of thousands of U.S. Marines. Toys for Tots is a program which brings all elements of a community together in a common
cause for three months each year. It is a program dedicated to helping in the development of our nation’s most valuable natural resource: our children. The shiny new toy at Christmas lets these youngsters know that someone cares.

Area Toys for Tots coordinator Gunnery A.T. Wilson is in charge of finding enough money and toys to fulfill the 900,000 toy requests for children in the 11 counties throughout Metro Atlanta. “Many people in Metro Atlanta have been hit hard this year so we are working extra asking for more donations and drop-off points,” says Mr. Wilson.

Toys for Tots collects only new toys. Organizers ask that toys brought to drop-off points be unwrapped so they can be sorted and given to the right child. Toys are to be appropriate for children from birth to 12 years. Toys will be accepted until December 21.

For information regarding volunteering or hosting an event, contact Mr. Wilson at 678-887-5179 or e-mail: santa@atlantatoysfortots.com.

(Reprinted from the December 2012 issue of EAST COBBER.)

As the holidays are upon us and planning for Christmas arrives, it’s also time to think about doing something special for children in need. The U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Campaign is again under way, giving local residents an opportunity to purchase a toy for a boy or girl outside their family.

Toys for Tots began 64 years ago when Maj. Bill Hendricks and a group of Marine reservists in Los Angeles collected and distributed more than 5,000 toys to needy children. Maj. Hendricks’ idea caught on and was so successful that the Marine Corps adopted Toys for Tots the following year and expanded it into a nationwide program. In 1995, the Secretary of Defense approved Toys for Tots as an official activity of the U.S. Marine Corps and an official mission of the Marine Corps Reserve.

Today, Toys for Tots is the Marine Corps’ premier community action program and one of the nation’s flagship Christmas charitable causes. Toys for Tots is the only charitable endeavor within the Department of Defense which reaches outside the military establishment to give something back to the communities. Toys for Tots has enjoyed over a half century of success because of the support of millions of caring Americans, local communities, and corporate sponsors, plus the dedication and hard work of thousands of U.S. Marines. Toys for Tots is a program which brings all elements of a community together in a common cause for three months each year. It is a program dedicated to helping in the development of our nation’s most valuable natural resource: our children. A shiny new toy at Christmas lets these youngsters know that someone cares.

The area Toys for Tots coordinator, Mr. A.T. Wilson, is in charge of finding enough money and toys to fulfill the 900,000 toy requests for children in the 16 counties throughout metro Atlanta. “Many people in metro Atlanta have been hit hard this year with the economy and job losses so we are working extra hard asking for more donations and drop-off points,” says Mr. Wilson.

Toys for Tots collects new unwrapped toys. The Marines ask that toys brought to the hundreds of drop-off points be unwrapped so they can be sorted and given to the right child. Toys are to be appropriate for children from birth to 12 years.

While the Marines organize, coordinate and manage the program, the ultimate success depends on the support of the local residents and their generosity. Here are more ways you can help this year’s Toys for Tots campaign:

• Organize an event.
• Volunteer to help sort toys.
• Donate money by sending a check or money order to:North Atlanta Toys for Tots, 2700 Ivy Mill Drive, Buford, GA 30519
• Conduct your own toy collection.
• Provide a service such as media or transportation support for the campaign.
• Provide a philanthropic donation of cash or toys.

For information regarding volunteering or hosting an event, contact Mr. A.T. Wilson at 678-887-5179 or e-mail: christmastoys@att.net.

(Reprinted from the November 2011 issue of EAST COBBER.)

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