Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.
Date: 11/6/2023
CHICOPEE — As the holidays quickly approach, Toys for Tots Western Massachusetts is gearing up to provide economically disadvantaged children with a sign of hope this Christmas.
Toys for Tots was started in 1947 by United States Marine Corps Reserve Major Bill Hendricks and his wife in Los Angeles, California. A total of 5,000 toys were collected in a drive and Hendrick’s wife asked him to distribute them to children throughout the reserve base.
One year later, the United States Marine Corps adopted Toys for Toys and expanded it into a nationwide community action project that remains today.
Toys for Tots Western Massachusetts Coordinator Sgt. Almahdi Mousa Jr. shared that every United States Marine Corps Reserve unit covers this, and it is one of their main missions.
Assistant Coordinator Cpl. Logan Jeskey explained that the purpose behind the program is to help the less fortunate children and ensure that everyone receives a toy on Christmas.
Nationally, Mousa said the program is starting to be more active year-round. However, in Western Massachusetts, he shared that it is “difficult” to do year-round as the coordinator changes each year. For instance, in 2024, the plan is for Jeskey to run the campaign.
From September through December, Mousa and his team work on Toys for Tots, but November and
December are the most active months.
He explained that November is filled with toy drive events and holiday parties, while December consists of collecting and distributing toys.
In 2022, Mousa said Toys for Tots served about 40,000 children and in 2021, about 70,000. He noted that the numbers change every year. This year, Mousa said they are trying to “maximize community involvement.”
He continued, “We maximize how we can impact the community by having approved organizations through nonprofits.”
Nonprofits are able to submit applications with how many children they serve, and Toys for Tots will use that list to decide how the toys are distributed.
The toys are broken down by age and gender. As the number of toys also fluctuates, Mousa said it is all dependent on supply and demand.
Jeskey said the reason for focusing on organizations this year is because there are only eight marines and not a lot of support.
Covering all Western Massachusetts — Berkshire, Franklin, Hampshire and Hampden counties — eight marines are assigned to the Toys for Tots program full time.
By asking organizations around the counties to contact families, it reaches a wider audience, including those who might not be able to reach Toys for Tots, Mousa said.
For those interested in donating, collection sites are posted on the Toys for Tots website, westernmass.toysfortots.org.
Mousa said most boxes have been distributed and will be collected Dec. 1.
Sometimes, Mousa said if people donate in person, businesses will do “promotional things.” For example, if it is at a smoothie shop, they might offer 10% off a smoothie purchase, and so on.
People can also make monetary donations online. Mousa said that money is used to order toys in bulk.
After Dec. 1, he noted that most, if not all boxes are back and sorted out to see how many toys each child will receive.
Jeskey said there are also volunteer opportunities for the community such as assisting with picking up boxes. Interested participants can submit requests on the website, along with available days and hours.
For additional information on Toys for Tots, visit westernmass.toysfortots.org.