Toys for Tots brings hope through donations

by Sgt. Daryl G. Sanford
Combat Correspondent

Today, seeing a Toys for Tots donation box next to the exit in department stores is a common thing, whether it is an off-base department store, multi-level mall or the Marine Corps Exchange. These boxes can be seen throughout the United States, and businesses willing to support the program continue to grow every year. But Toys for Tots didn't always have the grand vision it has today. The program had a humble beginning 55 years ago when a Marine and his wife just wanted to help make a child's Christmas special.

When Maj. William Hendricks returned home one fall day in 1947, he found Diane, his wife, hand-crafting a Raggedy Ann doll, and she asked him to find a needy child to give it to for Christmas. During his free time, Hendricks scoured his home city of Los Angeles in search of any organization to give it to, but after several weeks, he couldn't find one. After telling this to Diane, she told him that he should start one. Hendricks, along with other reserve Marines, collected and distributed more than 5,000 toys to needy children on Christmas Eve.
The campaign was so successful that the Marine Corps Reserve adopted it and expanded the program nationwide. With more help from Hendricks, the children's charity organization soon attracted attention from several high-level businesses and celebrity supporters. While not drilling and searching for toys, Hendricks worked as the public relations director for Warner Bros. studios. He was able to retain one of the most well known cartoonists in the United States, Walt Disney, to design the Toys for Tots logo, which is still used today. Disney also designed the first Toys for Tots poster, which depicts a large man in a red suit handing a rag doll to a happy child.

Disney wasn't alone in this endeavor. Many celebrities also donated their time and talents for the cause. Singers Nat "King" Cole, Peggy Lee and Vic Damone recorded the Toys for Tots song in 1956, which was written by Sammy Fain and Paul Webster. Since then, other celebrities have pledged their support and have backed the program, including Bob Hope, John Wayne, Kenny Rogers and Tim Allen. Former First Lady Barbara Bush also served as the national spokesperson in 1992.

Until 1979, the Marine Corps Reserve collected both new and used toys for the program. During drill weekends, Marines would repair the broken and worn out toys, but all that changed in 1980. There were three main reasons for the change. First, the Secretary of Defense's Total Force Program assigned reserves a greater role in the defense of the nation, which means that Marines had to spend more time training than fixing toys. Second, the safety and health risks associated with used toys, which began to arise in the 1970s, made it inadvisable for the Marines to give them out. Third, the distribution of second-hand toys wasn't the message the Corps wanted to send. Some felt that distributing a used toy could make the children feel that they weren't good enough for a new toy. The goal of the program was to deliver a message of hope and caring, which could motivate the child to grow into a patriotic, productive and responsible citizen and community leader. Delivering a new toy on Christmas would help to accomplis that goal.

Later in the 80s, the Corps determined that private organization of Toys for Tots would greatly benefit the program. Based on this fact, the Toys for Tots foundation was founded in 1991, and they have been the fund-raising and support organization for the program ever since. Because it was now a private, charitable organization, the program was able to get a much-needed facelift. People could now donate money to the organization, businesses could donate large amounts of toys, and they could take a charitable deduction on their income tax. It also was allowed to create advertising materials and other promotional materials to help the organization grow.

The Toys for Tots program took another big step a few years later. The commander of Marine Forces Reserve expanded the program to cover all states by authorizing selected Marine Corps League detachments and local businesses to conduct toy collection and distribution campaigns.

From its humble beginnings in 1947 as part of a Marine family wish, through the efforts of thousands of Marines last year, the Corps has distributed more than 272 million toys to more than 133 million needy children. These children, who may have it rough because of economic pressures, receive a glimmer of hope when they find a shiny, new toy for Christmas. The toy represents someone in their community cares for them. That toy may be the reason why many Marines wear the uniform today, and wait for the chance to hand another child hope through a shiny, new toy.

Bob Eyler - Toys For Tots

Breakfast and Bike Run Sunday December 8th put on by Bob Eyler, Second Wind and Quarterdeck.

The ride started at the Quarterdeck with breakfast at 9am. We then left the Quarterdeck at 10am and rode to the Second Wind Navajo, then North Park, Escondido, Santee then back to the Quarterdeck. When you brought a new toy to any of the Second Wind Locations on Sunday between 10am and 2pm handed the toy to the bartender and got a drink for a $1.00. All toys can still be dropped off at the Quarterdeck & Santee Second Wind up to December 17th.

Ride was sponsored by:

Quarterdeck Cocktails
79 Broadway El Cajon
619 447 2022

Second Wind: Navajo
8515 Navajo Rd.
619 645 1730

Second Wind: North Park
2306 El Cajon Blvd.
619 298 6008

Second Wind: Escondido
1320 East Valley PKWY
760 746 7408

Second Wind:Santee
8528 Magnolia Ave.
619 596 8350

Each year Bob Eyler does just a little bit more. We at SDS hope you can do the same.