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OUR
BASIC INFORMATION PAGE:
TOY GUIDELINES
Toys for Tots distributes new,
unwrapped toys to needy children each Christmas. The best
donations are sporting goods, toy cars/planes/boats, dolls (Barbie, J. I. Joe,
etc.), board games, books, bicycles, scooters, puzzles, models, hand-held video
games and small electronics.
Each year there are particular age/gender groups that do not receive enough toys
through donations. Please consider donating a toy for an
older boy/girl (12+ years of age) as well as toys for infants (less than 2
years old).
WHO IS
ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE TOYS? If the child receives free or
reduced lunch or the family is eligible for MediCal or Healthy Families they
automatically qualify for Toys for Tots. Contact the distribution agency
noted on each city page for further information.
CASH DONATIONS
Toys for Tots is a 501(C)3 non-profit public
charity and as such your gifts are tax deductible per applicable IRS code (see your tax advisor).
Cash boxes will be placed at many of the toy drop-off
locations. If you
would like to send a check make it payable to Toys for Tots,
MCL 680 and send to:
Toys for Tots
663 Pismo Street
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
VOLUNTEER
FOR THE TOYS FOR TOTS PROGRAM:
What volunteering is all about:
Those of you working with the Marines on the Toys for Tots program do a
wonderful job each holiday season to bring new toys and books to under
privileged children. It is a great feeling to be "making a difference" in
helping these needy kids.
Permit me to remind all of you, however, that as critically important as this
gift-giving is, there is a lot more to the Toys for Tots story. Children are our
most precious natural resource. Today's children are tomorrow's leaders - civic,
business and social. Millions of American children still live in poverty.
Studies reveal that growing up in poverty can have an adverse psychological
impact on a child. One example might be low self-esteem - a by-product of little
or no hope for the future. The shiny new toy which millions of needy children
receive each holiday season, from Marines and their friends, through the Toys
for Tots program, delivers a message of hope.
Our gifting has the potential to have a positive influence on the development
of needy youngsters - to motivate them to grow into responsible, productive,
patriotic citizens and community leaders.
So you see, what you are doing in your volunteer work for Toys for Tots may
be much more than you previously had thought. You are helping to lay a positive,
worthwhile foundation upon which the future of these youngsters may be built.
This, I submit to you, is more than reward enough for all we are doing
together.
Semper Fidelis, Lou Barnes
Director
Toys for Tots California Central Coast
U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program
MISSION:
The mission of the U. S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program is
to collect new, unwrapped toys during October, November and December each year,
and distribute those toys as Christmas gifts to needy children in the community
in which the campaign is conducted.
GOAL:
The primary goal of Toys for Tots is to deliver, through a new toy at
Christmas, a message of hope to less fortunate youngsters that will assist them
in becoming responsible, productive, patriotic citizens.
OBJECTIVES:
The objectives of Toys for Tots are to help less fortunate children
throughout the United States experience the joy of Christmas; to play an active
role in the development of one of our nation’s most valuable resources – our
children; to unite all members of local communities in a common cause for three
months each year during the annual toy collection and distribution campaign; and
to contribute to better communities in the future.
ACTIVITIES:
The principal Toys for Tots activity which takes place each year is the
collection and distribution of toys in the communities in which a Marine Corps
Reserve Unit is located. In communities without a Reserve Unit, the campaign
can be conducted by a Marine Corps League Detachment or group of men and women,
generally veteran Marines, authorized by Marine toys for tots Foundation to
conduct a local Toys for Tots campaign. Local Toys for Tots Campaign
Coordinators conduct an array of activities throughout the year, which include
golf tournaments, foot races, bicycle races and other voluntary events designed
to increase interest in Toys for Tots, and concurrently generate toys and
monetary donations.
Your Donation at Work
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The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation enjoys one of the very
best program to support ratios within the nonprofit world; 96:4. This means
that over 96% of your donation goes to our mission of providing toys, books
and other gifts to less fortunate children. The 4% spent on support
principally covers fundraising expenses - not one donated dollar
goes to pay for salaries or any other manpower costs. |
Out of nearly two million nonprofit organizations in the United States, the
Foundation was ranked #75 in the 2009 Philanthropy 400 published by the
Chronicle of Philanthropy.
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