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Marine
Toys for Tots Foundation
Phase II of the Clubs Collecting for Communities Campaign:
Clubs Collect Toys for the U.S. Marine Corps' Toys for Tots Program
Toys
for Tots first began in 1947 when Major Bill Hendricks, USMCR, and
a group of Marine Reservists collected and distributed 5,000 toys
to needy children. This campaign was so successful that the Marine
Corps adopted Toys for Tots in 1948 and expanded it nationwide.
Marines have conducted successful nationwide campaigns each year
since 1948. And since 1980, Marines have distributed only new toys.
Today, Toys for Tots campaigns operate in more than 290 communities
throughout the United States. Marines collect new, unwrapped toys
in October, November and December. Thereafter, Marines distribute
toys to the needy children of their communities through local
social welfare agencies and church groups. The 2003 Toys for Tots
campaign was the most successful campaign in the 57 year history
of the programs. Marines distrubuted 15 million toys to 6.5 million
needy children
The most common methods of community participation are:
Public Drop-off Site
As a Public Drop-off Site, representatives set up receptacles in
their organizations to collect toys or case donations and allow
the public to "drop off" toys throughout the campaign.
Promotional materials are provided to help advertise their participation
in the collection drive. During the campaign, the organization's
personnel periodically count and bag the toys. They then deliver
the toys to one of the consolidated pickup site, or call the T4T
HOTLINE to arrange for Marines to pick them up. The T4T HOTLINE
is publicized throughout the campaign and donors wishing to be matched
to the closest public drop-off site will call this number and be
referred to your location.
Private Toy Drive
The methods of operating a Private Toy Drive are the same as for
a Public Drop-off Site except they are not open to the public.
Single Event
Single events range from a holiday party to a softball tournament.
Admission to the event may require the contribution of either a
toy or cash donation. Sponsors of these events can receive promotional
material and coordinate the pickup of any contributions made. Marines
may be invited to attend the event to further promote the campaign.
Consolidated Pickup Site
The logistics of transitioning the National Capitol Area picking
up toy donations are grand in scale. A major contribution to these
efforts could be made by becoming a Consolidated Pickup Site. Your
location would be given to others who wish to donate toys they've
collected, but who don't have the means of storing or transporting
them to the Marine Reserve Training Center. They would then deliver
the toys to your and a Toys for Tots representative will coordinate
with your to schedule.
To have your Club be designated as one of the areas, to get
the information you need to launch your toy drive or to schedule
uniformed marines to come to your event and collect the toys,
please visit
www.toysfortots.org
for the contact information in your area.
If you have any questions, please contact Dan Barrett
at CMAA National Headquarters at (703) 739-9500.
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