Today from 9am-2pm @ 4th Tanks. All brand new toys for christmas this year. Each child gets 2 toys. They have some really nice stuff. We just got home from there.
everyone. :) We got a floor puzzle thats like 2 feet square, a set of puppets, light up police car, and a thomas the train set. I got home wrapped them and am so excited.
I hope everyone who needed this was able to go and get something! :) I think it's a great program. We try and donate every year. I didn't know they had bikes too, that is awesome!
It was for everyone today...They had so much left over from the program that they told some units and lots of marines were there..It was very nice..hence the GREEDY people with full boxes of stuff...it was from 9-2
i saw some people waking out of there with 10-12 things. i was like they said 2 per child. And i made sure to grab things that were little and for my childs age since they are little and dont get it yet. I mean i got 4 things and i have 2 kids, but some families the mom dad and 2 kids were there and they walked out with tons.
The left over toys are supposed to be sent to a central warehouse for storage for next year. People have to go through application processes to prove finacial need to receive those toys. It's kinda like taking money out of the kettle for Salvation Army.
^^ Agreed. When we used to donate we thought it was Marines collecting for the area's needy children. Since we have been here at this duty station we have found other causes to donate to. Out previous base never offered these toys to military families. If i donate a gift then go get a gift, isnt that like donating to myself? :/
It is stealing from a charity. The ones giving stuff out today could be charged with the crime. Will it happen? No. This is the kind of stuff that destroys the good name others sacrificed to build.
They should have brought the left over toys to any nearby hospitals and give them to the children who are sick or have cancer I think.. My JROTC program used to do that when I was in high school and a couple of the JROTC people would dress up as elves and 1 as Santa and 1 as Mrs Claus and would hand out the toys to the kids in the hospital..
I have to agree with Michelle and Sleepy, when one donates to Toys-4-Tots, I don't think it's done under the auspice of military children, but children throughout the community who need the donations, and to hear that there were so many leftovers and that they were given away to only one specific group and the public had no access, seems a little fishy. It seems monopolized. Are we sure these were Toys-4-Tots? It looks like there are multiple facets of T-4-T, including a Marine T-4-T so that may have been how these particular toys were collected (specifically for Marine Corps dependents)...who knows really?
1stSgt Brian O'Toole @760-830-0988 was the local POC for Toys for Tots...If you have any specific questions, you might want to ask him before trashing the entire program...
No one has trashed the entire program. Simply todays misuse and theft of charitable donations at the particular unit. I will be sure to call the POC to find out his involvement in todays activities. I have worked with the organization for several years now and they are not authorized to give the donated toys to whom ever they want.
you might want to ask him before trashing the entire program...
Try reading that part again Little Miss I have worked with the organization for several years now and they are not authorized to give the donated toys to whom ever they want...
As far as I know this was part of the toys for tots program that was for the marines. here is the email that i got..
TOYS FOR TOTS: Distribution date - Dec. 14 FOR MILITARY MEMBERS, THE PRIMARY MEANS TO REQUEST TOYS WILL BE THROUGH YOUR CHAIN OF COMMAND (SENIOR ENLISTED OR FRO). THE BASE DISTRIBUTION WILL TAKE PLACE ON 14 DEC, 0900-1400, BLDG 2070 ON 13TH STREET. TO REQUEST TOYS FROM THE MORONGO BASIN, YUCCA VALLEY THROUGH 29 PALMS, TOY REQUEST HOTLINES WILL BE OPEN FROM 1-15 DEC, 0900-1500, MON-FRI. HOTLINE NUMBERS ARE; (760)830-8936/0984/8878. COMMUNITY DISTRIBUTIONS WILL TAKE PLACE ON 16 DEC, 0800-1400, AT THE YUCCA VALLEY COMMUNITY CENTER AND 20 DEC, 0800-1400, AT THE TWENTYNINE PALMS COMMUNITY CENTER. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, VISIT: http://29-palms-ca.toysfortots.org/local-coordinator-sites/lco-sites/default.asp (Submitted by 1stSgt. O'Toole)
I think that the ones given to marine families today were what was left from the registration and given to marine families because they were designated for marine families.
I wasn't aware that questioning one branch of an organization's ethics was trashing the entire organization. More to the point I would think that stopping something like this before it effects the rest of a wonderful charity would be encouraged. Corruption left unchecked only breeds more corruption. I believe in the good work that is done by Toys for Tots. Not once have I blamed the charity itself. I blame the unit that was responsible for today. Myself and others that are equally upset will be looking into what can be done to prevent a reoccurance. I will contact 1stSgt Brian O'Toole tomorrow. I highly doubt that he gave the authorization or was aware of the situation. Toys for Tots should not be losing the faith of the local community due to the greed or misjudgement of a few.
Like I said this is the email that i recieved and in the email it states distribution for military members. I am assuming that it was authorized.
I did not mean to put the charity on blast or start anything. to my knowledge it is/was authorized and I was trying to let others know that it was there. Not everyone in the military is "rich" or has money to spare. For us because of a family emergency and my sons disability costs we dont have the money to put toys under our tree for our children. The toys for tots today really helped to bring chritmas to my children
For military families in the midst of a financial crisis, the holiday season brings additional worries to an already stressful situation. Simply finding the extra money to buy a toy for their child may seem impossible. But thanks to the Marines Toys for Tots program, military and civilian children alike, have the opportunity to receive a new toy for Christmas.
If you're experiencing tough financial times and are in need of a new toy to give to your child for Christmas, Toys for Tots may be the answer to your prayers.
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