What is Toys for Tots?
Toys for Tots was founded in 1947 by Colonel William Hendricks of the United States Marine Corps Reserve. The official story from Toys for Tots is that the Colonel’s wife made a child’s doll and gave it to her husband to pass on to an organization collecting toys for needy children. When Hendricks could find no such organization in Los Angeles, he started Toys for Tots, collecting toys for over 5,000 families in the first year with the help of other reservists. The Marine Corps was struck by the program and made it nationwide in 1948. The Toys for Tots program’s stated goal is to “bring the joy of Christmas to America’s needy children.” Since its inception, Toys for Tots has met this goal with radical success, supported by the Walt Disney Company and a variety of celebrities. Numerous organizations across America support Toys for Tots drives around Christmas, with collection points in department stores, supermarkets, libraries, and schools. Motorcycle clubs are often active in Toys for
