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Toys for Tots distributes new,
unwrapped toys to children up to 12 years of age 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. 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. Certifications are requested to be provided. Toys for Tots is a 501(C)3 non-profit public charity and as such
your gifts may be tax deductible (see your tax advisor). Cash gifts are used to
buy toys and books which are added to our collections. Toys for Tots VOLUNTEER FOR THE TOYS FOR TOTS PROGRAM: If you can volunteer your time and talents, or your
business as a collection point, to support this fantastic program in any of the
Central California cities, we welcome your support. Please call our T4T
Hotline at 805.528.7190 and leave your name, return phone number, and message
and our hot line staff will return your call. 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 HOW TOYS FOR TOTS WORKS (Taken from the national TFT web site) The U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program is directed by the Commander, Marine Forces Reserve from his headquarters in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, an IRS recognized 501(c)(3) not-for-profit public charity, independent of the Marine Corps, provides the funding and support needed for successful annual toy collection and distribution campaigns. Local campaigns are conducted in over 500 communities covering all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. The Commander, Marine Forces Reserve has, under his command, 188 Marine Corps Reserve Units, located in 46 states. To cover all 50 states and more communities in each state, the Commander, Marine Forces Reserve authorizes the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation to permit selected Local Community Organizations (generally former Marines), which are located in communities far removed from a Reserve unit, to conduct Toys for Tots campaigns as part of the overall U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Toys Program. One individual, either a Marine Reservist, member of a Marine Corps League Detachment, or member of a local community organization, is designated the Toys for Tots Coordinator for that community. This Coordinator is responsible for planning, organizing and conducting the campaign in his/her community. Local campaigns begin in October and last until December 22. Members of the community drop off new, unwrapped toys in collection boxes positioned at local businesses. Coordinators pick up these toys and store them in a central warehouse 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 toys to the neediest children of the community. Over the years, Marines have discovered that social welfare agencies, churches, and other local community agencies are best qualified to identify the neediest children in the community and play key roles in the distribution of the toys. (The agencies supporting the Central Coast are various churches, Healthy Start, People Helping People, Loaves and Fishes, and Toy Bank.) While Toys for Tots Coordinators organize, coordinate and manage the program, the ultimate success depends on the support of the local community and generosity of the people who donate toys. Local business leaders play a key role. They allow Coordinators to locate collection boxes in their stores; provide free warehouse space for storing toys during October, November and December; provide vehicles to collect toys from collection 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 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 purchases supplementary toys and promotional and
support materials; and otherwise defray the costs of annual Toys for Tots programs. ELEMENTS OF TOYS FOR TOTS Commander, Marine Forces Reserve Marine Toys for Tots Foundation Marine Corps League Detachments Local Community Organizations Local Business Leaders National Corporations
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