Toys for Tots was founded in 1947 by Colonel William Hendricks of the United States Marine Corps Reserve. The official story from Toys for Tots is that the Colonel’s wife made a child’s doll and gave it to her husband to pass on to an organization collecting toys for needy children. When Hendricks could find no such organization in Los Angeles, he started Toys for Tots, collecting toys for over 5,000 families in the first year with the help of other reservists. The Marine Corps was struck by the program and made it nationwide in 1948.

The Toys for Tots program’s stated goal is to “bring the joy of Christmas to America’s needy children.” Since its inception, Toys for Tots has met this goal with radical success, supported by the Walt Disney Company and a variety of celebrities. Numerous organizations across America support Toys for Tots drives around Christmas, with collection points in department stores, supermarkets, libraries, and schools. Motorcycle clubs are often active in Toys for Tots collections, providing an example of the widely disparate groups that support the mission.

Until 1980, Toys for Tots accepted both new and used toys, refurbishing the used toys and donating them to grateful families. However, rising concerns about the safety of distributing used toys, especially those made prior to the 1970s, which may contain lead and other toxic substances, combined with an increasing demand on the Marine Corps, caused Toys for Tots to request new toys only. Toys for Tots also felt that distributing hand-me-down toys was not encouraging or morale-building and that children would benefit more from brand new toys.

The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation was founded in 1991 to support the Corps in their goals. The Toys for Tots Foundation supplements the collections made by Marines, distributes promotional and support materials, provides a point for deductible monetary donations, works with corporations to promote Toys for Tots, and ensures that the group is in full compliance with Internal Revenue Service (IRS) standards. Donors can drop off toys at a variety of points around the world, and they can also donate money, time, or used vehicles to the Toys for Tots Foundation. Toys can be requested by agencies, teachers, or individuals who see children in need. Marines passing out toys often attend in full dress uniform.