Marines' Mission: Toys For Tots

The first Toys for Tots gift was a handmade doll created by Marine Major Bill Hendrick’s wife, Diane, in 1947. The couple donated the doll, among other gifts, to children in the Los Angeles area. The campaign went nationwide the next year.

To date, the campaign has collected more than 140 million toys. The charity’s goal is to make sure that no child goes without a gift during the holiday season.

In New York, the Marines are teaming with Fao Schwarz for the seventh year to bring toys to need city kids. Last year, the combined effort yielded 250,000 gifts.