By: Danny May
Since it began 60 years ago, the United States Marine Corps’ Toys for Tots program has distributed over 450 million new toys to over 200 million underprivileged children in America.
The many volunteers who make Toys for Tots possible year after year embody the true spirit of Christmas. The gift of a shiny new toy – something that most people take for granted – shows a needy child that someone cares, that they haven’t been forgotten, and that Christmas hasn’t passed them by.
Since it began 60 years ago, the United States Marine Corps’ Toys for Tots program has distributed over 450 million new toys to over 200 million underprivileged children in America. That great success is attributed to local coordinators and their countless volunteers who conduct the campaigns on the local level.
All the toys collected in the toy drives are distributed in the area they were collected in. Our local chapter TFT program serves 14 Counties: Daviess, Hancock, Muhlenberg, McLean, Ohio, Union, Henderson, Christian, Hopkins, Webster, Trigg, and Todd.
Owensboro Parent sat down with local TFT coordinator Matt Fitzgerald to hear more of the story behind Toys for Tots.
Tell me the history of Toys for Tots:
Major Bill Hendricks of United States Marine Corps Reserve started Toys for Tots in Los Angeles in 1947. That first year they collected 5,000 toys. Since then it’s grown so much that the 2011 campaign distributed almost 16 million toys to more than 7 million children across America.
Here in Owensboro we collected 17,039 toys for 8,028 children. Those toys were given to Salvation Army, Christmas Wish, Pitino Shelter, Oasis, Help Office, Migrant Head Start, Housing Authority, St. Vincent de Paul, many local churches, community centers, Good Fellows, Audubon Area Head Start, Green River Outreach, and local school systems.
So how does it work?
Our toy collection campaign begins in October and lasts until mid to late December. We have Toys for Tots “drop boxes” at different businesses around Owensboro. Members of the community drop new, unwrapped toys in the collection boxes. We pick them up and store them in a warehouse where the toys are sorted by age and gender. At Christmas we distribute the toys to less fortunate children with the help of local social welfare agencies, church groups, and other local community agencies.
What makes Owensboro’s TFT program special?
Daviess County is one of the most generous places I have ever been; it amazes me and waters my eyes at the same time. There is never a need not met or a request turned down. I have so many people to thank for their time, talents, and treasure. Jerry Paul and Lou Drawdy along with the Marine Corps League members built the local Toys for Tots campaign by going door to door, business to business, creating what we have now. I am spoiled to say the least. Their devotion is unparalleled and their friendship is irreplaceable. The Salvation Army team is such a great asset to us and they are a great example of leadership and service. Owensboro has one of the finest groups of people who gather at the American Legion year after year to provide so much for the Toys for Tots campaign. Jimmy and Janie Rhodes head up a committee that puts on a huge fundraiser for us every year. Tim Banks built (yes, built!) a Marine Corps Toys for Tots motorcycle from the ground up. It’s a genuine work of art and a true example of Tim’s talent and devotion to Toys for Tots.
Why do you want to be the local coordinator?
I was honorably discharged from the United States Marine Corps in June of 2009. The military instills such a strong feeling of purpose, duty, and responsibility and I wanted to utilize all the great resources I gained from the Marine Corps. So I began to look for a way to continue to serve on a local level. I looked for about a year and a half and then in October 2010 I had the opportunity to go on a mission trip to an orphanage in Guatemala. It changed my life! Once I returned I knew that I wanted to help children. That was my mission and my calling in life. Not long after that, I attended a Marine Corps Birthday celebration with some guys from the Marine Corps League here in Owensboro. They told me about the Toys for Tots program and asked me to volunteer and ride along with them. I immediately showed interest and even asked them to help coordinate the program. Jerry Paul, the coordinator at the time, said I could be his sidekick that year and take over the reins in 2011. I had finally found what I was looking for! I love it! For me, Toys for Tots is a chance to make a difference. I really believe that my generation needs to step up, take charge, and take over programs such as Toys for Tots or these programs will be lost.
How can our readers donate toys or get involved in the program?
If you want to donate toys we have drop off boxes at Wal-Mart, Sam’s, Dollar Stores, several banks, just about everywhere really. And if you want to make a financial contribution or get involved, just call me at 270-922-8111!