Photography courtesy of Toys for Tots

The holiday season is about more than just presents—it’s about fostering connection and spreading kindness and joy.

One organization driven by such a mission is Toys for Tots, which brings hope and happiness to children in need throughout the nation via the gift of new toys.

The history

Founded in 1947 by Marine Corps Reserve Major Bill Hendricks, the nonprofit began as a small endeavor in Los Angeles. Hendricks’s wife, Diane, had some handcrafted dolls she wanted to donate to underpriviledged children and asked him to find an agency that would distribute them. Unfortunately, he was unable to—so he and his fellow marines took on the initiative themselves, collecting and delivering 5,000 toys in the area that season.

Recognizing the widespread potential of this effort, the US Marine Corps turned Hendricks’s local efforts into a national community-action program the following year. Since then, it has grown into one of the most recognized and respected charitable organizations in the country. Campaigns are now conducted in over eight hundred communities in all fifty states as well as Puerto Rico, Guam, and the US Virgin Islands.

The impact

During its seventy-five-plus-year history, Toys for Tots has collected more than 708 million toys from generous donors and distributed them to over 314 million children, ensuring that they experience the magic of the holidays. In 2024 alone, the organization provided over 30 million toys to around 13 million children.

In addition to its seasonal toy drive, it operates year-round programs like its Foster Care Initiative, which provides foster children with toys, books, and other items to take with them as they move, and its Literacy Program, which gives books and educational resources to economically disadvantaged kids. These efforts allow the organization to both help young people overcome obstacles and bring hope in stressful times.

How to help

Toys for Tots relies on the kindness of individuals and businesses alike, and there are several different ways to get involved during these months. To start, you can purchase new, unwrapped toys and drop them off at a designated location as listed on its website from October to December; if your community doesn’t have a local toy drive, consider applying to become a coordinator and manage a campaign yourself.

Business owners, meanwhile, can volunteer their stores to be toy drop-off sites and storage centers for the items until they’re distributed. The organization also relies on volunteers to collect, sort, and deliver the toys to children in their respective areas. And, of course, it also accepts monetary donations, with over 97 percent of every donation going directly toward its programs. While Toys for Tots’ core mission is to collect and distribute toys, its impact goes far beyond the gifts themselves. The program fosters a spirit of community and compassion, bringing people together for a common cause. For so many children, receiving a gift from the nonprofit serves as a reminder that they are valued, bringing extra joy when they need it most.

For more info, visit toysfortots.org