Toys for Tots is a program that has been providing toys for children for many years. The U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program collects toys for children by having campaigns at communities all over the United States.
San Benito High School helped this year by having all four grade levels collect toys. According to the Toys for Tots website, the effort “collects new, unwrapped toys during October, November, and December each year.”
The main goal of Toys for Tots is to convey a message of hope to kids who are less fortunate. The Classes of 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018 are all helping the cause of Toys for Tots by having all students from their designated classes donate toys.
SBHS Class of 2016 President Chuck Walker said that he is glad to help in Toys for Tots because it’s nice to give back to a good cause.
Brianna Archibeque, who is the vice president of the Class of 2016, said that students could donate toys by taking them to the class trees that will be located by the space next to the Senior Mound on the Quad on Dec. 5.
“It’s nice to give back to kids and to do a fundraiser that helps kids during Christmas time,” said Archibeque.
Class of 2016 Publicity Commissioner Maggie Campo said, “All classes asked people to bring new toys for kids and place them under their class tree at the Baler Lunch Time on Dec. 5.”
In addition to providing toys for children who are less fortunate, all the class trees that were decorated by the class officers of each grade and will be donated to families as well.
There were various places to donate toys. For example, the drop-off locations for the Class of 2016 were in Juan Hernandez and Derek Barnes’ classrooms, and for the Class of 2017 the toys could be donated in Carissa Filice’s classroom.
Throughout the years, Toys for Tots has given more than 469 million toys to more than 216 million children nationally. In order to collect toys for this cause, local campaigns are conducted in more than 700 communities throughout the United States. The Toys for Tots website states that in order to donate toys in a participating community, “One individual, either a Marine, member of a Marine Corps League Detachment, or member of a local community organization, is designated the Toys for Tots coordinator for that community. The coordinator is responsible for planning, organizing, and conducting the campaign in his/her community.”
Toys for Tots is a program that helps many children during the holidays by providing them with toys that are either purchased by the foundation or donated by the corporations. This program is a cause that brings joy to many less fortunate children and, supporters say, will continue for many years to come.