Toys for Tots
Guest blog post by
Marc A. Leon GuerreroStaff Sergeant, USMC
Detachment Commander
Marine Security Guard – Detachment Wellington
U.S. Embassy Wellington, New Zealand
Every year during the holidays Marines from the United States as well as Marines from Posts around the world initiate the Toys for Tots campaign. Toys for Tots began in 1947 when Major Bill Hendricks, USMCR and a group of Marine Reservists in Los Angeles collected and distributed 5,000 toys to needy children. During the holiday season, Marines come together to support to the community whether it is volunteer work, or campaigning in our best dress uniform collecting donated gifts with the intention to make a special Christmas for the less fortunate children across the globe. Our experiences with Toys for Tots while overseas have been humbling, eye-opening and rewarding.
This year, we visited the Wellington Children’s Hospital and donated toys to kids that were spending the holidays in the hospital. We were honored to deliver gifts to the children donated by generous Americans and Kiwis alike, and are grateful for the reminder that everyone deserves a Christmas with a spark of joy.
