Amid supply chain bottlenecks and increased demand from families in need, Toys for Tots put out an urgent call for donations on Thursday.
“The Toys for Tots program is very low on toy donations and with only two weeks left until Christmas, Santa is worried he won’t be able to help all of the children who have been good this year,” the alert read.
The program, which was founded 75 years ago by the U.S. Marines, has been seeing more people in need, with requests from nonprofits going up this year.The increased demand from Americans, who are still dealing with the economic turmoil caused by the pandemic and now, inflation, is one reason why the program has been flooded with more requests.
No, it won't solve world hunger, or economic inequality. But on a day when most children wake up to a present under the tree, you do have the power to make a little kid happy. That's a good thing!
I still remember, 10 or so years ago, I went looking for a local drop-off box in a T-Mobile store. The manager (who looked more like an NFL linebacker than a retail clerk), thanked me profusely. He started to choke up as he told me about growing up with a single mom who was constantly struggling financially. "If it wasn't for Toys for Tots, I wouldn't have had anything under the tree. It really meant a lot to me."
I've never forgotten seeing that grown man cry, and that's why I nag y'all every year to make a donation. (Sometimes the same families who donated last year need toys this year.) At this late date, the foundation prefers cash to toys, so they can direct it to the places which need it most.
Those interested can go to toysfortots.org to find a nearby toy drop-off location, or give virtually at the Marine Toys for Tots Virtual Toybox.
