Dear Marines, Sailors, and Associate Members of the Marine Corps League!
Although Christmas is over six-months
away, planning for the Marine Corps’ premier community outreach program
is in full swing. We understand the challenges of working through
COVID-19 and trying to maintain operational tempo. Funeral honors,
fundraising, and planning the Marine Corps Ball may have your full
attention right now; however, the 74th Marine Corps Reserve Toys for
Tots Campaign will begin before you know it.
The Marine Corps League has a long
history with Toys for Tots. As early as the 1950’s, the League has
supported this amazing effort to bring the joy of Christmas to less
fortunate children. In 1996, this support was formalized as Detachments
were approved to conduct Toys of Tots Campaigns in communities that did
not have a Reserve Unit. From 56 Detachments in 1996, the number of
local campaigns led by the Marine Corps League has increased
dramatically. This past year, Detachments led 249 of the 808 local
campaigns and collected over 2.5 million toys and distributed over 3.6
million toys to approximately 1.2 million children. Many more directly
supported other Marine Corps Reserve Units.
We would like to express our gratitude
and heartfelt thanks to each one of you who volunteered to support
Marine Toys for Tots in 2020. Despite the challenges from the COVID-19
pandemic, you adapted and overcame the challenges of an unprecedented
year to accomplish the Toys for Tots mission. Although 2020 was a great
success, we know the need will still be there for almost 15-million
children who live at or below the poverty level across the Nation. Your
Corps continues to need the League’s help! If you are part of a
Detachment that is in an area that already has a local Toys for Tots
campaign, reach out to them as ask how you can help. If you are in an
area that does not have a Toys for Tots local campaign, we ask that one
of your members apply to be a Toys for Tots Local Community Organization
(LCO). The application can be found online here:
https://www.toysfortots.org/coordinators-corner/application-start.aspx
To determine if your area has a local campaign or not, please visit
The Marine Corps League is an
exceptional component to the Toys for Tots Program, an official activity
of the United States Marine Corps. Literally millions of children
throughout the history of Toys for Tots would not have experienced the
joy of Christmas were it not for your efforts. The willingness of your
Marines and Sailors to continue to make a difference for our Corps and
our Nation’s less fortunate children, lends credence to the expression
“once a Marine always a Marine.” The Marine Corps is indeed blessed to
have the Marine Corps League as an integral part of the Toys for Tots
team!
Semper Fidelis,
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