IS THE CHRISTMAS MISSION OF YOUR UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS RESERVE.WITH YOUR ASSISTANCE WE CAN PROVIDE A MESSAGE OF HOPE, AND COMPASSION TO THE UNDER-PRIVILEGED CHILDREN OF FRESNO COUNTY. JOIN US, AND TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE IN A CHILD HOLIDAY EXPERIENCE THIS YEAR.
Since 1775, the Marine Corps has Defended Freedom and Democracy, a Duty they have fulfilled with Honor, Courage, and Commitment. As they have fulfilled that Duty, Marines have earned a well-deserved reputation for toughness.
There is another side to the Marine Corps, the side that springs from a Love of Country, the Communities in which they live, and a deep Compassion for the under-privileged children of America. That side exemplifies the Spirit of the Marine Corps, and that side is found in the United States Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program.
Toys for Tots began in December 1947, with a hand crafted Raggedy Ann doll. The wife of Marine Reserve Major Bill Hendricks, made this doll and asked her Husband to deliver the doll to an Organization that would present it to a needy child on Christmas day.
Major Hendricks could find no agency to provide such a service. To help fill that void, Major Hendricks and members of his Marine Corps Reserve Unit, collected and distributed 5,000 toys to needy children of the Los Angles area during Christmas 1947. The seed was planted and Toys for Tots was born. The following year the Marine Corps Reserve adopted the program, collected and Distributed toys in 74 communities Nationwide.
The Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program, collection and distribution sites have become an important and Familiar Element of the Christmas Holiday landscape. To many people, Christmas is not complete without Marines in dress blues, collecting and distributing toys to the less fortunate children of their communities.
As history has proven Time and Time again, Marines Do Not, do anything halfway. Over the years, Marines have worked Tirelessly to meet the ever growing demand for toys; Distributing over 386,000,000 toys, bringing the joy of Christmas and a Message of hope to more than 181,000,000 children Nation wide.
The Toys for Tots program has grown tremendously since its inception. Today, Toys for Tots serves over 600 local communities, covering all 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
Nation wide Toys for Tots collects and distributes, an average of 16 million toys, to an average of 7 million children each year at Christmas. This is an incredible accomplishment. Impressive as those numbers are, they do not tell the whole story. Every year the number of children needing toys has risen.
Individuals are very important to us. It is a way you can give back to your community and to its less fortunate children. You can support Toys for Tots, by donating a new, unwrapped toy, at a toy collection site near you, by assisting us with toy collections, sorting, or distribution. Helping to coordinate special toy raising functions is another way of getting involved.
Local Businesses are instrumental in the success of the Toy for Tots program. You can sponsor a toy raising event, provide an essential service like printing, transportation, or simply allow your place of business to be a toy drop off location.
The important thing is that we are Local People helping Local Families. This is the Christmas mission of your United States Marine Corps Reserve.
Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, an IRS recognized 501(c)(3) not-for-profit public charity is the fund raising, funding and support organization for the U. S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program. The Foundation was created at the behest of the U. S. Marine Corps and provides support in accordance with a Memorandum of Understanding with the Commander, Marine Forces Reserve, who directs the U. S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program. The Foundation has supported Toys for Tots since 1991.
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 needy children in the community in which the campaign is conducted.
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