TRIANGLE, Va. — As the holiday season approaches, the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation is launching its annual nationwide campaign to provide gifts and hope to millions of less fortunate children.
The organization, which has become a cornerstone of American holiday tradition, is calling on communities to help bridge the gap for families facing economic hardship. While the program is known for delivering toys, books, and other gifts, leadership emphasizes that the mission is about more than just material items.
“While the holidays bring celebration for many, for parents and guardians facing life’s unexpected circumstances, they can be shadowed by worry,” said Lt. Gen. Jim Laster, USMC (Retired), CEO of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. “With your support, we can deliver more than presents. We can deliver comfort in times of uncertainty and hope that shines in the darkest seasons.”
The impact of the program is often measured in decades rather than days. This year, the Foundation highlighted the story of Sgt. Christos Toromanides to illustrate the long-term influence of a single gift.
At age 13, Toromanides was battling acinic cell carcinoma, a rare pediatric cancer. While spending Christmas in a hospital ward, he was visited by Marines in Dress Blues who hand-delivered a gift. That moment of connection stayed with him; in 2016, after being cancer-free for 14 years, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps.
“I had no idea who they were or what Toys for Tots was,” Toromanides recalled. “But I remember thinking—wow, you guys are in the military, and you’re giving out toys? It was one of those moments where I just wanted to know more.”
The Foundation notes that behind every donated toy is a potential story of a child feeling seen and supported by their community. With inflation and economic uncertainty continuing to affect household budgets, the organization is bracing for high demand this December.
Since its inception in 1947, Toys for Tots has distributed 674 million toys to 301 million children. The program currently operates in over 800 communities across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Those looking to support the campaign can donate new, unwrapped toys at local drop-off locations or make a financial contribution online at http://www.toysfortots.org.
About Marine Toys for Tots:
Toys for Tots, a 77-year national charitable program run by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, provides happiness and hope to less fortunate children during each Christmas holiday season. The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit public charity which was created at the behest of the U. S. Marine Corps in 1991.