Toys for Tots
Warehouse of Smiles
Everyone has one or two special Christmas memories. Mine is sitting at mama’s huge, mahogany dining table on Christmas Eve with family and bunches of aunts and uncles. Most of the aunts and uncles weren’t really our aunts and uncles, but all Southern families have them.
My brother was there from Florida with his wife and 2 ½ year-old-daughter, Gina. Suddenly, my own daddy was hit with an idea. He snuck out of his chair, snatched up a couple of Gina’s presents, went out the back door, circled the house, banged on the front door, yelled “Merry Christmas! Ho! Ho! Ho!” He left the presents and ran away. There are not enough appropriate words in the dictionary to describe the look on Gina’s face, but I can still see it. Sadly, more kids than you realize don’t have that Christmas experience or one even remotely similar.
This is where Toys for Tots, founded in 1947 by Marine Corps Reserve Major Bill Henderson in Los Angeles, steps in. The 1947 spur-of-the-moment launch of the organization collected and distributed 5,000 toys.
Staff Sergeant Kevin Varas de Valdes is the local Toys for Tots Campaign Coordinator for the Fort Worth area. “It’s my 14th year in the Marines and the first year with Toys for Tots,” he said. “It’s an exciting assignment with a lot of layers and an incredible number of details, all requiring planning and coordination.
“In 2023, we collected 51,000 toys, games and books for 33,000 kids. Our campaign this year is tirelessly working on raising more toys in an effort to support more families in the Fort Worth area, an endeavor we look forward to meeting.”
On a national level in 2023, long-standing records were broken with 25.5 million toys, books, games, and smiles passed out to 10.3 million children. The staggering numbers were accomplished by 50,000 volunteers.
Many people prefer to direct their efforts, whether it’s toys, cash, or volunteer efforts, to their local communities. That’s done easily with all directions spelled out on the local Toys for Tots websites.
“Each Campaign Coordinator does things a bit differently,” Valdes said. “Most of the time, the various courses of action depend on the resources available, including manpower. In the Fort Worth area, we developed a partnership network with different agencies that we thoroughly vet ahead of time. We send the collected toys to them, and they handle the distribution. We just don’t have enough available people to cover that part.
“We’re incredibly lucky to be in Fort Worth. These people know how to dig deep, and they do it. As a matter of fact, all North Texas is that way.”
Local business leaders have taken on key roles in the massive Toys for Tots program. Many function as drop-off sites with easily accessible collection boxes, offer free warehouse space for storing and sorting, provide vehicles to pick up from drop-off sites, sponsor toy raising events, and help with media exposure.
Marine Coordinators work hard to forge networking relationships with local welfare agencies, church groups, and other organizations to help them identify children in-need.
There are numerous ways for individuals to support Toys for Tots. The two most obvious are donating new, unwrapped toys and/or cash. “Sometimes we may find we’re lacking something specific,” Valdes explained. “Maybe we’re short on toys appropriate for boys or maybe we need more games or books. The cash donations allow us to go out and shop for those.” It’s important to note that 100 percent of every dollar donated goes directly to the project.
You can also host a Toys for Tots event, such as a toy drive, or check out volunteer opportunities. You can even start a local chapter, but remember, everything must be coordinated with the local campaigns.
Most people don’t realize Toys for Tots is an umbrella that shelters more than the well-publicized Christmas project. It also covers the Foster Care Initiative, the Youth Ambassador Program, the Literacy Program, and the Native American Program. Those are topics for another issue!
My little niece is all grown up, with grown-up children of her own, but I still remember that pure smile of excitement. You may never see them one-on-one, but you can directly contribute to putting those Christmas smiles on thousands of fresh, innocent faces through Toys for Tots.
There are two information-packed websites. For an overall, detailed national review go to toysfortots.org. You’ll also find data about contacting local chapters.
Fort Worth Toys for Tots
fort-worth-tx.toysfortots.org
SSgt Kevin Varas de Valdes
Fort.Worth.TX@toysfortots.org
817.899.5515
