WASHINGTON (TNND) — As the holiday season ramps up, one of America’s most enduring charitable traditions is once again bringing comfort and joy to families in need. The U.S. Marine Corps Reserve’s Toys for Tots program — now more than seven decades old — remains a cornerstone of holiday giving across the country.
The program began in 1947, when Marine Corps Reserve Major Bill Hendricks and his wife, Diane, launched a local effort in Los Angeles to collect and distribute toys to children who might otherwise go without. Its success was immediate. The following year, the Marine Corps adopted Toys for Tots as a national mission, and Hollywood icons like Walt Disney helped design and promote its early campaigns.
Today, Toys for Tots operates in every state, supported by thousands of Marines, volunteers, and community partners. Since its founding, the program has distributed hundreds of millions of toys to tens of millions of children — a reach that expands each year as economic pressures weigh on families nationwide.
Organizers say the mission goes far beyond holiday cheer. For many families, especially those facing financial hardship, Toys for Tots provides not only gifts but also a sense of dignity and connection during a season that can highlight disparities. The program also plays a significant role in building trust between military communities and the public they serve, reinforcing the Marine Corps’ longstanding commitment to service at home as well as abroad.
Local drives are already underway, with donation boxes filling schools, fire stations, and storefronts from coast to coast. Marine reservists say they expect demand to climb again this year — a reminder of just how vital the program remains nearly 80 years after its founding.
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For millions of children, a wrapped present under the tree is a small moment of joy. For Toys for Tots, it’s a mission rooted in compassion, community, and the belief that every child deserves to feel remembered.
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