WASHINGTON — White boxes overflowed with colorful, shiny new toys when senators, their families, aids and other staff members gathered at the Russell Senate Office Building to give to the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation on December 3, 2014.
Every year the foundation ran by the United States Marine Corps Reserve, collects new, unwrapped toys through public donations and gives them to children in need. Every year state senators take part in the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs Toy for Tots Drive.
“There are a lot of families in today’s economy that just don’t have the money to buy the kind of presents they would like for their children’s holiday season,”said Senator Bernie Sanders, the Chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee. “This is going to bring a very happy holiday season and Christmas to a whole lot of children around our communities.”
This year’s event filled 17 boxes full of toys, which will go to communities surrounding the Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling Air Force Base.
“There’s a lot of animosity in congress these days and this is one time when everyone pulls together and supports an effort and its all about making children happy and we want them to have good full lives,”said Laura Parker, the Deputy Assistant Sergeant at Arms for Operations.
Toys for Tots was adopted by the Marine Corps in 1948, a year after it was founded by Major Bill Hendricks, a Marine reservist in California. Every year millions of toys are distributed to millions of children through this effort.
“You have children not getting gifts at Christmas and we love to help them out and it boosts the moral of everybody,” said Sgt. John Spargor, an Operation Clerk for 2nd Civil Affairs Group at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling Air Force Base.
For information about donating or volunteering for Toys for Tots, visit www.toysfortots.org.
