How Toys for Tots Works

The U. S.  Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program is directed by the Commander, Marine  Forces Reserve, with the assistance of his staff, from the Marine Forces  Reserve Headquarters in New Orleans,   Louisiana.

 The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, an IRS recognized  501(c)(3) not-for-profit charity, is the authorized fundraising and support  organization for the Toys for Tots Program.   The Foundation provides the funding and support needed for successful  annual toy collection and distribution campaigns.  The Foundation staff is headquartered in the  Cooper Center located just outside the main gate of Marine Corps Base,  Quantico, Virginia, about 35 miles south of Washington, DC.

Local campaigns are conducted annually in over 700 communities covering all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.  The Commander, Marine Forces Reserve has under his command 163 Reserve Units located in 47 states.  To cover all 50 states and more communities in each state, the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation selects Marine Corps League Detachments and Local Community Organizations (generally veteran Marines) located in communities without a Marine Reserve Center, to conduct Toys for Tots campaigns as part of the overall U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program.

CLICK HERE for ROCHESTER TOYS for TOTS CAMPAIGN

One individual, either a Marine, member of a Marine Corps  League Detachment, or member of a local community organization, is designated  the Toys for Tots Coordinator for that community.  The Coordinator is responsible for planning,  organizing and conducting the campaign in his/her community.

 Local toy collection campaigns begin in October and last  until mid to late December.  Toy  distribution also takes place mid to late December.  Members of the community drop new, unwrapped  toys in collection boxes positioned in local businesses.  Coordinators pick up these toys and store  them in central warehouses where the toys are sorted by age and gender.  At Christmas, Coordinators, with the  assistance of local social welfare agencies, church groups, and other local  community agencies, distribute the toys to the less fortunate children of the  community.  Over the years, Marines have  established close working relationships with social welfare agencies, churches  and other local community agencies which are well qualified to identify the needy  children in the community and play important roles in the distribution of the  toys.

While Toys for Tots Coordinators organize, coordinate and  manage the campaign, the ultimate success depends on the support of the local  community and the generosity of the people who donate toys.

 Local business leaders play key roles.  They allow Coordinators to locate  drop-off/collection boxes in their stores; provide free warehouse space for  storing and sorting toys during October, November and December; provide vehicles  to collect toys from drop-off sites; sponsor toy raising events; and help  Coordinators arrange media exposure for Toys for Tots in the local community.

 National corporations support Toys for Tots by establishing  affiliations with the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation.  These corporations make donations to the  Foundation or conduct cause marketing initiatives from which they share  royalties with the Foundation.  In almost  every instance, the marketing initiatives of these corporations give  significant added visibility and name recognition to Toys for Tots.  Such visibility enhances the campaign at the  national and local levels.  The funds  emanating from these affiliations enable the Foundation to purchase toys to  supplement local collections; purchase promotion and support materials and  defray the costs of annual Toys for Tots campaigns.

 Elements of Toys for  Tots

  • United    States Marine Corps

  • Marine Forces Reserve*

  • Marine Toys for Tots Foundation

  • Marine Corps League Detachments**

  • Local Community Organizations***

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Every Child Deserves a little Christmas

 Footnotes:

* Marine Forces Reserve consists of 34,000 Marine  Reservists, 2,000 Active Marine Reservists and 4,000 Regular Marines for a  total of 40,000.  Typically, 15 to 20% of  the forces are involved in annual Toys for Tots campaigns.

 **  The Marine Corps League (MCL) is a veteran’s organization of men and women who have served in the U.S. Marine Corps.  There are 1,100 MCL Detachments located throughout the nation.  The MCL has 76,000 members.  A Detachment typically has about 65 members.

 *** Local Community Organizations (LCOs) are created in  communities which do not have a Marine   Reserve Center  or a Marine Corps League Detachment.   LCOs are typically composed of veteran Marines and other socially  conscious members of the community.