The Mission of the Reserve Marines of Tallahassee

Toys for Tots Coordinator Sgt Brittany Edmonds

Thanks to the generosity of the local community, during the 2011 Toys for Tots campaign, 33617 toys were distributed to 5700 less fortunate children in this area. We look forward to working with everyone again in 2012. Thank you.

Since 1775 the Marine Corps had defended freedom and democracy - a duty they have fulfilled with HONOR, COURAGE and COMMITMENT. As they have fulfilled that duty, Marines have earned a welll deserved reputation for toughness.

But there's another side to the Marine Corps - the side that springs from a genuine concern for the communities in which they live, and a deep compassion for the under-priviledged children of America.

In December of 1947, the wife of a Reserve Marine, Major Bill Hendricks, hand crafted a toy doll and asked him to deliver it to an organization that would present it to a less fortunate child on Christmas day.

Major Hendricks could find no agency to provide such a service. To help fill that void, Major Hendricks and members of this Los Angeles Marine Reserve unit, collected and distributed 5,000 toys to needy children across his area for Christmas 1947. The seed was planted and Toys for Tots was born. The following year the Marine Corps Reserves adopted the program and collected and distributed toys in 74 communities nationwide.

  The Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program collection and distribution sites have become an important and familiar element of the Christmas holiday landscape. To many people Christmas is not complete without Marines, in dress blues, collecting and distributing toys to the less fortunate children of their communities.

  Anything you enjoy doing you generally do very well; so is it with the Marine Corps Reserve and their Toys for Tots program. Over the years Marine Reservists have been extremely successful and have worked tirelessly to meet the ever growing demand for toys that enable parents, who may not otherwise be able to provide their children with a Christmas toy, to answer their child's Christmas dream.

  The Toys for Tots program has grown tremendously since its begining in 1947. Today Toys for Tots serves over 700 local communities covering all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Now, more than ever, Toys for Tots needs the assistance from members of their local community to help make this season better than ever.

  Individuals who volunteer and businesses that extend their support are extremely important to our program. It not only spreads the warm, giving feeling of the holiday spirit, it gets our community involved and connected in a way that builds our local commradery. As us Marines say "Never Leave A Marine Behind," we want to extend that way of thinking to "Every Child Deserves a Little Christmas." It's a great way to give back to our community and our less fortunate children. You're able to support Toys for Tots by donating a new, unwrapped toy at a toy collection site or by assisting with toy collection, sorting toys, or toy distribution. Helping to coordinate special toy raising functions is another way of getting involved.

  Local businesses are instrumental in the success of the Toys for Tots program. You can generate or purchase media attention for the program, sponsor a toy raising event, provide an essential service like printing or transportation, or by simply allowing your place of business to be a toy drop off location and local sponsor.

  The important thing is we are local people helping local families. This is the Christmas mission of your local Marine Corps Reserve unit.

Semper Fidelis,

Sgt. Brittany Edmonds

REGISTRATION

Registration will begin November 7th, 2011 and end on December 7th, 2011. Hours of registration will be from 8:00AM - 3:00PM. The location will be at the Naval and Marine Corps Reserve Center at 2910 Roberts Ave. Tallahassee FL 32310.

What to bring to REGISTRATION:

--- Photo ID --- Child's Birth Certificate --- Child's SSN Card ---

--- Proof of Income ---

TFT COORDINDATOR PHONE: 850-570-6172

**DISTRIBUTION**

Distribution Day will be Sunday, December 18th, 2011 from 8:00AM - 4:00PM. The location will be at the Salvation Army Family Thrift Store at 2131 Jackson Bluff Rd. Tallahassee, FL 32304.

What to bring on DISTRIBUTION DAY:

---- PHOTO ID ----

"Every Child Deserves a Little Christmas"

Collected toys must be received in our warehouse
NO LATER THAN Friday December 16th, 2011 by 5:00pm.
Our warehouse location is: 2131 Jackson Bluff Rd. Tallahassee, FL 32304 at the Salvation Army.