DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) - Toys for Tots is back again this year with the goal of giving children in need presents for Christmas.
The organization started in 1947, after a young Marine Corps Major struggled to find a place to donate his wife's homemade dolls.
"She says, 'We've got to give these to somebody, how can we do that?' He said he didn't know anybody, so she said, 'Start something!'" Retired Colonel Bob Tyler told WAND News. "And so, he went to his reserve unit, and that year they gave out about 5,000 toys to kids in the local area."
Nearly 80 years later, 5,000 toys turned into roughly 50 million toys globally. The Marines are still a big part of Toys for Tots.
"I've been amazed at the generosity of this community over the past 15-16 years at how much generosity comes in this town in all sorts of ways to reach out to those who might need a little help this time of year," Tyler said.
Tyler wishes Toys for Tots weren't needed, but wants to help as many kids as possible.
"A really good goal would be to have zero toys that we need to give out because nobody has the need. That's not going to be the case, we know that," Tyler said. "So, we're just glad to be able to help and provide some sort of Christmas for those who are less fortunate."
For information on how to donate, click here.
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