Every year, that familiar red choo-choo train chugs its way onto the screens of thousands of American students’ boards, advertising one of the largest non-profit charities in the country: Toys for Tots. However, many of these students don’t understand the true meaning of the organization, the way it affects those around them, and the reason it continues to thrive today.
Toys for Tots, started by Marine Corps Major Bill Hendricks in 1947, was founded as one of the first ways to spread toys to children in need. Inspired by his wife, Diane Hendricks, and her wish to give out her handmade dolls to kids in Los Angeles, the charity organization was built on giving with no incentive. Instead, it shed some light and holiday cheer on hundreds of American families.
Within its first year, Toys for Tots gifted over 5,000 items, whether they be dolls, action figures, board games, coloring books, or anything else of the sort. By 1948, the Marine Corps’ support and celebrity involvement in the charity, such as Walt Disney’s poster designs, increased greatly. Toys for Tots was established as an official non-profit organization, and this group has continued to spread its passion and care to children across the nation.
Still, students wonder how supporting Toys for Tots will impact their community or the students themselves. Mr. Ray Philipp, the school counselor for both the middle and high school and the main organizer of Kingsway’s Toys for Tots participation, says, “For at least the past 3 years, Kingsway has been involved with Toys for Tots… [It] is a great activity we do as a district to promote our #1DragonFamily initiative as a whole and emphasize the #1DragonFamily theme of the month for December which is ‘Caring.’” Toys for Tots is not only utilized to benefit those in need, but it is also a source of teaching students compassion and understanding. “The toys will be collected by the Gloucester Co Division of Toys for Tots,” continues Mr. Philipp, meaning that these donations will affect families near the school community.
These donations were advertised throughout December with flyers, videos, and KRHS’ daily news segments on KDTV, explains Mr. Philipp, which all helped Kingsway’s Middle and High Schools to fill seven total donation boxes that will contribute to the Toys for Tots annual goal of 40,000 donations. Every item counts once it reaches the hands of a child in need of holiday cheer. What might be ten dollars spent on a Barbie to one person is a dream of Christmas magic come true to another.
https://www.toysfortots.org/about/history/#:~:text=Toys%20for%20Tots%20began%20in,that%20supports%20children%20in%20need.