Toys for Tots – A Brief History of this Worthwhile Project

Articles on Toys | Topics: toys, toy

by Braedon Chase

When you think of Toys for Tots, you most likely think of the toy drives are the office, church, and store during the Christmas season. Did you ever stop to think just what this organization is all about? Have you ever wondered if this is simply a Christmas program or if there is more to it? Who started this whole program anyways?

Well, Toys for Tots dates back to 1947 when United States Marine Major Bill Hendricks and an unnamed group of Marine Reservists banded together in sunny California's Los Angeles to bring Christmas to over five-thousand needy children. Of course, behind every great man stands a great woman, and it is therefore no surprise that the inspiration for this feat is found in the figure of Diane Hendricks who sought to donate a handmade toy to an organization that would give it to a needy child. The Major sought in vain for such an organization and in exasperation his wife suggested that perhaps he should start such a charity himself. He did and a nationwide movement was born. The Marine Corps was so impressed with the success of the program that they decided to sponsor the annual event, and thus it became a nationwide campaign. Because of his day job at the Warner Brothers Studios, Major Hendricks was fortunate enough to rub elbows with a lot of celebrities who did not mind becoming involved with the campaign, lending it their names and images, and even their voice talents!

From its inception until about 1979, Toys for Tots welcomed new and used toys, and volunteer Marine Reservists would spend their weekends cleaning up, fixing, and wrapping used toys. In the year 1980, however, it was determined that old and used toys really did not send the message the founder of this campaign had envisioned, and since then only new toys have been solicited. Even with this change in the program, this movement has remained a resounding success and is able to do much good during the holiday season. Understandably, the charity is quite proud of its accomplishments and rightfully so! On its own website, Toys for Tots states that since its creation in 1947, the program has collected and distributed about three-hundred thirty-two point five million toys to more than one-hundred fifty-eight point five million children. It is truly astounding what became of the brainchild of one Major and his wife, when they searched in vain for a charity that would pass on a handmade toy to a needy child over a Christmas holiday.

Historical Quote

...I’m not money hungry.... People who are rich want to be richer, but what’s the difference? You can’t take it with you. The toys get different, that’s all. The rich guys buy a football team, the poor guys buy a football. It’s all relative.

—Martina Navratilova (b. 1956)

Toys for Tots are the most visible in the months of October, November, and December. This is the time when the campaign kicks into high gear and the appeals are the most visible. Posters and television and radio spots remind Christmas shoppers of the program and giving trees further serve as means to bring the message of a need home to the wary shoppers. Many school classes will use this time of the year to "adopt" a needy family through the Toys for Tots program, and the school children will then pool their financial resources, raise funds, or sell cookies in order to raise money to purchase a toy or multiple toys for that family's children. The mission of the program is surprisingly simple: they are not out to save the world or change society as we know it, but instead they simply want to enable local volunteers during the Christmas season to put a shiny new toy in the hands of each needy child the program gets to know.

While the program kicks into high gear during the holiday season, it also operates during the off-season. For example, during the warmer summer months many local volunteers host golf tournaments, bake offs, and other fundraising events to not spread the word about he charity, but also to help it by collecting some much needed monetary donations, as well as some early toy donations for the next Christmas season. So go ahead and get involved - there is not time like the present! This worthwhile charity needs your help, and its history clearly proves that this extraordinary campaign is clearly something that was "meant to be."

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Please note: All personal opinions expressed in the "Toys for Tots – A Brief History of this Worthwhile Project" article belong to the contributing author and are not necessarily shared by ToysGiftsPresents.com.

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