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One of the great traditions in Westchester, and our country, is the U.S. Marine Corps’ annual Toys for Tots drive. In Westchester, former County Legislator and Marine Jim Maisano holds a holiday Toys for Tots drive, which this year will be held Saturday, Dec. 14 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Dudley’s Restaurant, 94 Hudson Park Road, New Rochelle.
Other upcoming events to bring a new, unwrapped toy include:
The Mid-Life Crisis Band will perform Dec. 7 at 8 p.m. at Graziella’s North, 353 N. Bedford Road, Mt. Kisco.
Jessica Lynn will present benefit concert titled “A Very Merry Country Christmas” on Dec. 14 at The Paramount Hudson Valley, 1008 Brown St., Peekskill. Visit paramounthudsonvalley.com for more information.
A group of dedicated volunteers from Toys for Tots Westchester helped provide 18,000 gifts and toys to underprivileged kids last year. There is still time to help and make a difference – every year the need grows and so does the need for toys and volunteers.
Toys for Tots boxes are located all over the county. For a list of drop-off locations in Westchester County, visit www.t4twestchester.org/donate/dropoff.asp. Donate a toy or your time – both are a precious gift.
Check donations made payable to: “Toys for Tots” may be mailed to Toys for Tots, P.O. Box 1207, White Plains, NY 10602-1207. Online donations may be made at http://bit.ly/2TLFs34.
You can also show up at the Westy’s in Elmsford to help pick up toys and sort them.
Toys for Tots began in 1947 as the brainchild of Marine Corps Reserve Maj. Bill Hendricks. Actually, it was his wife, Diane, who was the real inspiration. She had handcrafted a few dolls and asked Bill to deliver them to an agency that supports children in need.
When Bill reported back to his wife, he could not find such an organization – so she instructed him to start one. Maj Hendricks and the Marines in his reserve unit collected and distributed 5,000 toys in 1947.
Hendricks’ civilian job was as director of public relations at Warner Brothers Studios. He was friends with many celebrities who he asked to help support the newly created Marine Toys for Tots Program. As a personal friend and as a favor to Hendricks, Walt Disney designed the first Toys for Tots poster, which included a miniature three-car train that was subsequently adopted as the Toys for Tots logo.
Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, an IRS recognized 501(c)3 not-for-profit public charity, is the fundraising, funding and support organization for the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program. Donations are recognized as tax-deductible for tax purposes.
