Have you given a toy for the Toys for Tots organization in your local area?

2016-11-02T15:02:04-04:00

RP Members and Connections have you given a toy to the local Toys for Tot organization in your area or part of the country? Christmas is right aroung the corner!

The American Legion Riders Post 146 is hosting Toys for Tots in Oceanside, CA on November 6, 2016!

I'll be there performing with The Hickory Wind Band for the over 600 bikers that are anticipated to attend this great event. We received over 2,000 toys last year and raised over $8,000 that we gave back to veteran organizations in the community and surrounding counties in and around the area of San Diego, CA!

If you ride a motorcycle and live in the area please join us - bring a toy! If you don't live in the Sabn Diego, CA area find the nearest Toys for Tots organizations in your area and make a child's Christmas by donating a toy this year! Thank you

Response by SSG Tom Pike made Nov 2 at 2016 3:12 PM

2016-11-02T15:12:41-04:00

Every year the Marines come to our office to pick up a large pile of toys. We have contests to see which group in the office can donate more toys.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Nov 2 at 2016 3:23 PM

2016-11-02T15:23:09-04:00

My wife's office is a local drop off location!

Response by SPC Erich Guenther made Nov 2 at 2016 4:18 PM

2016-11-02T16:18:29-04:00

Yup $700 in toys the year before last because I ran a drop off location then. BTW, the bear at the top of your add is created at BUILD A BEAR workshop store, cost only $18 or so had one made in Marine Uniform Rank of PFC for my Toys for Tots display......you can put sensors in it so when it is squeezed it says Oh-Rah or barks like a dog, or you can record your own message..........pretty cool.

Response by PO3 Steven Sherrill made Nov 2 at 2016 4:21 PM

2016-11-02T16:21:53-04:00

COL Mikel J. Burroughs It is an annual tradition. I have been doing since before I went into the Navy. I always thought it was a great thing. Talk about opposites attract. The stoic Marine in his Dress Blues, not moving and not flinching, combined with the pure joy and elation of a child at the holidays. I pretty well think that if that doesn't get to a person on some level, then they are broken.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 2 at 2016 4:22 PM

2016-11-02T16:22:11-04:00

I donate to a local charity which does the same thing. It also provides stuffed animals, coats, and shoes to local law enforcement and first responders so they have them when they are on scene with children.

Response by LT Michael Watson made Nov 2 at 2016 4:26 PM

2016-11-02T16:26:06-04:00

My family and I have made a holiday tradition to go and purchase a load of toys and gifts that range across the age and gender span, and then find out where the Marines here in Denver are collecting them to drive up and unload the truck. We have other charities we work with, especially during the holidays, but this one is special.

Response by SFC Dennis A. made Nov 2 at 2016 4:38 PM

2016-11-02T16:38:51-04:00

Yes, I donate every year.

Response by LTC John Shaw made Nov 2 at 2016 4:52 PM

2016-11-02T16:52:42-04:00

I love this event and I have a good neighbor who is a marine veteran and our families join in donations most years. Great charity for a great cause, it is the simple gift of fun to a child who may not have had a Christmas. It is the perfect message of unity and caring for others, important to send in this time of societal divisiveness.

Response by Capt Tom Brown made Nov 2 at 2016 5:10 PM

2016-11-02T17:10:01-04:00

Will have to check it out locally this year. In past years didn't notice any publicity or group sponsoring the drive for the local unit.

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Nov 2 at 2016 5:38 PM

2016-11-02T17:38:35-04:00

A number of times.

Response by SFC George Smith made Nov 2 at 2016 5:59 PM

2016-11-02T17:59:23-04:00

almost every year...

Response by SSG Jeremy Sharp made Nov 2 at 2016 11:32 PM

2016-11-02T23:32:54-04:00

I just gave to our Sheriff's Office's Dare Program Toy drive Sunday.

Response by Sgt Charles Reeder made Nov 3 at 2016 2:25 AM

2016-11-03T02:25:53-04:00

Toys for tots poker run in Las Vegas on Saturday Nov 5

Response by SGT Richard DeVoe made Nov 3 at 2016 7:02 AM

2016-11-03T07:02:32-04:00

An associate of mine has a great tradition. Every year they give their kids a gift card for christmas. When the Toys-For-Tots drive begins the following year the kids take that gift card from the previous year and buy a toy that they would like and give it to the Toys-For-Tots. The family has been doing it since she was a teenager. A couple of years ago they hit rock bottom and were actually on the list to recieve a gift. They still did the traditional card (all be it a smaller amount) and it has still continued. This year her oldest daughter has actually got a group of her friends that are going shopping with her, and they are all donating. So from a small family tradition/gesture it has spread to other youth.

Toys-For-Tots in my opinion is not just about helping those in need, but teaching the younger generation about selflessness, compassion, caring, and helping others. I wish more of our youth could learn this lesson.

Response by SPC Phil Norton made Nov 3 at 2016 8:05 AM

2016-11-03T08:05:39-04:00

I will say that I donate but I can't say how much or little I believe charitable deeds should be a somewhat private thing I don't want to give appearance of bragging about good deeds

Response by SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 3 at 2016 9:26 AM

2016-11-03T09:26:20-04:00

My wife and I normally try to give at least one gift towards toy for tots every year and even before we met we both tried our best to give when we could.

Response by PV2 Elisabeth Mackey made Nov 3 at 2016 10:25 AM

2016-11-03T10:25:36-04:00

we do the salvation army Angels every year. even when we don't have a lot of money, we always help another family. its just the right thing to do

Response by LCpl Richard Barnhart made Nov 3 at 2016 3:03 PM

2016-11-03T15:03:13-04:00

I'm in the DFW (Dallas/Ft Worth) area, and I usually participate in the Toys For Tots rides (motorcycle group events)
I average about every other year...

Response by SSG Shavonde Chase made Nov 5 at 2016 4:44 PM

2016-11-05T16:44:21-04:00

Thanks for the reminder. The season for giving should be all year round.

Response by 1SG Margarita Brunke made Nov 6 at 2016 8:50 AM

2016-11-06T08:50:53-05:00

We do the toy run rake toys and $ to support toys for tots

Response by CSM Richard Welsch made Nov 6 at 2016 9:25 AM

2016-11-06T09:25:09-05:00

I don't have a bike but I give toys for tots every year.

Response by CAPT Michael W. Langston, PhD, DMin made Nov 6 at 2016 11:04 AM

2016-11-06T11:04:16-05:00

Yes, and it is one of the most rewarding things that i can do. It helps others and it allows me to stay connected to others that can benefit by a simple act of caring. Pass it on, it will change your life and bring a sense of hope, faith and trust back to humanity. Not to mention your own sense of being part of the community in which you live.

Response by SFC Charles Temm made Nov 6 at 2016 11:19 AM

2016-11-06T11:19:13-05:00

I give several times a year as I can afford it and their rotation comes up on my charitable giving list.

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 6 at 2016 7:22 PM

2016-11-06T19:22:50-05:00

Thanks for the shout out Colonel. Toys for Tots is a great cause. Glad you reminded me so now I'll get some and drop off with local recruiters. My wife is Director of a local and independent benevolent organization and they do similar stuff. Retail store sells good things for pennies on dollar for revenue. They help folks with bills, clothes, holiday meals, school supplies, food bank, coats for kids, resupply folks after house fire with everything etc. We all assume it won't happen to us and get comfortable but things can and usually do happen. Nothing better than smile on face of a kid getting something they deserve but don't usually get. It's sad that this exists in our society same as homelessness. Getting on soapbox here because no way any Veteran should go hungry and/or homeless while we send billions to nations that are better off in some ways than we are. Best Wishes.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 7 at 2016 3:53 AM

2016-11-07T03:53:18-05:00

This has always been one of my highlights for the holiday season! Especially as a Big Red One Soldier. I remember I arrived at Ft. Riley in December of 2014. One of the events they do is Operation Santa Clause where the different units donate to Toys for Tots. My Battalion dressed up, invited family and marched to the drop off site to deliver toys. It was a great time and the families loved it as well.

Response by SSgt Michael Cox made Nov 10 at 2016 11:45 PM

2016-11-10T23:45:09-05:00

Yes I usually donate 6 toys personally but also help raise another 600 from hosting a toys for tots challenge on my campus by challenging the entire faculty and staff.

Response by Cpl Rebecca Nicholson made Dec 11 at 2016 1:07 AM

2016-12-11T01:07:38-05:00

Yes, we have two huge donation boxes in our Plant. We do this every year!

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Jan 7 at 2017 4:39 PM

2017-01-07T16:39:06-05:00

Decades ago I participated in toys of for tots and I think I did about 10 years ago as well COL Mikel J. Burroughs Now I prefer to donate funds to ministries which minister to children and we support Operation Christmas Child from Samaritan's purse each year as well - since my wife loves to collect items for a couple boxes each year.