A Marine in dress blues kneels down to hand a shiny new bicycle to a wide-eyed kid at a local distribution event. The parents stand by, holding back tears, while other children clutch toys and board games. This scene plays out thousands of times every December, all thanks to one of the Marine Corps' most enduring traditions: Toys for Tots.
Now in its 78th year, the 2025 campaign is in full swing, with Marines and volunteers across the country collecting toys to make sure no child goes without this holiday season.
Roots of the Program Trace Back to 1947
Toys for Tots started small in Los Angeles in 1947 when Marine Reserve Major Bill Hendricks and his wife Diane handmade a doll for a Raggedy Ann doll and asked him to deliver it to a needy child. When no agency existed for that, Hendricks and his fellow Marines collected and distributed 5,000 toys that Christmas.
The very next year, the Commandant of the Marine Corps made it an official Marine Corps Reserve mission. Walt Disney even designed the iconic red toy train logo. What began as a local effort exploded nationwide, and today it's one of the most recognized holiday charity drives in America.
Marine Forces Reserve Leads the Charge
The U.S. Marine Corps Reserve directs the entire program. The Commander of Marine Forces Reserve oversees it from the top, but local Reserve units and coordinators handle the day-to-day work in hundreds of communities.
That Reserve connection keeps the military-community bond strong. Retired Marine Master Sergeant Shaun Van Eaton, a longtime volunteer, puts it this way:
"The events that I have attended have always been amazing because this time of year, it connects the military to the community as well. Not every day you see Marines in their dress blues interacting with families and kids whether giving gifts or receiving them."
In 2024, the campaign set records by distributing over 30 million toys, books, and games to nearly 13 million children in need. Since 1947 the Marines have cumulatively handed out 708 million toys to over 314 million kids. This year, with economic pressures still hitting families hard, the goal is to match or beat those numbers.
Every Donation Stays Local
One of the best parts about Toys for Tots is how it keeps things close to home. As Van Eaton explains,
"all toys and money donated in the local collection areas are given back to the local community. For example, Snohomish County [Washington] toy collections stay in the local community and don't get sent to another state or region."
That local focus means your donation directly helps kids in your area. Marines work with schools, social service agencies, and churches to identify families who need support the most. Everything goes straight to children.
Van Eaton also notes why so many people give in person: "Many people, civilians and military veterans only donate in person when they can to Toys for Tots because of the history and connection. It's such an amazing program."
How to Get Involved Right Now
The 2025 drive runs through mid-December in most areas, so there's still time to pitch in.
Drop off a new, unwrapped toy at thousands of collection boxes nationwide, find locations on the official Toys for Tots site by entering your zip code. Monetary donations go further because the foundation buys in bulk and stretches every dollar.
Want to volunteer? Local campaigns always need help sorting toys, staffing events, or driving trucks. Some areas host toy runs, golf tournaments, or holiday parties where you can hand gifts to kids yourself.
If your community doesn't have a campaign, you can even apply to start one through Marine Forces Reserve.
This holiday season, Toys for Tots proves the Marine Corps is about more than fighting wars. It's about fighting for kids who just want to believe in Christmas magic.
