This Holiday Season, Bring Smiles to Those in Need!

Christmas time is a special time of year that everyone looks forward to. People are covered in big thick jackets and mittens to keep warm from the powdered falling snow, bright colorful lights strung high above on homes and Christmas trees with presents filled underneath, baking special holiday treats to share with loved ones, etc. Before the crack of dawn on Christmas Day, children are the first ones to be up, waking up everyone in the household and eager to open what old St. Nick have left them underneath the Christmas tree. Within a matter of minutes, colorful wrapping paper is scattered across the living room and the aroma of warm hot chocolate fills the air. It is truly the most magical time of the year!

Sadly, not everyone can be as fortunate.

This year, hundreds of children will wake up on Christmas morning and have nothing to rush down to. No reason to wake their brothers and sisters up early. Underneath the tree, there will be emptiness where brightly wrapped gifts should be awaiting.

Giving A Child A Christmas Memory…

In 1947, Major Bill Hendricks founded the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program in Los Angeles, California. In the first year of the program, 5,000 toys were collected and distributed to children who are in an unfortunate situation.

Over the 58 years of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program, Marines and volunteers in 342 communities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and American Samoa have distributed more than 351 million toys for 166 million needy children.

But planning the perfect Christmas Day can be stressful and overwhelming, from waiting in long lines to finish some last minute Christmas shopping, scouting out new recipes to try for the special Christmas dinner, big crowds waiting to take their family portrait with Santa Claus, etc. In the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, don't forget those that isn't as fortunate.

Next time you’re at a convenience store, pick up a toy for a child and leave it in the donation bin inside the store. With every toy you donate, you can definitely light up a child's holiday and make it special to them. In a way, this is your chance to be Santa Claus, your chance to make a difference for a child…and isn’t that what the holidays are really about?