Toys for Tots

Toys for Tots began in 1947 when Major Bill Hendricks, USMCR and a group of Marine Reservists in Los Angeles collected and distributed 5,000 toys to needy children. The idea came from Bill's wife, Diane. In the fall of 1947, Diane handcrafted a Raggedy Ann doll and asked Bill to deliver the doll to an organization, which would give it to a needy child at Christmas. When Bill determined that no agency existed, Diane told Bill that he should start one. He did. The 1947 campaign was so successful that the Marine Corps adopted Toys for Tots in 1948 and expanded it into a nationwide campaign. That year, Marine Corps Reserve units across the nation conducted Toys for Tots campaigns in each community in which a Marine Reserve Center was located. Marines have conducted successful nationwide campaigns at Christmas each year since 1948. The initial objective that remains the hallmark of the program today is to "bring the joy of Christmas to America's needy children." 

          The Lincoln Land Leathernecks collect toys and cash donations each fall at the Daniken Tree Farm Food Stand beginning the weekend after Thanksgiving and running until the middle of December.  The Daniken Tree Farm is located on US Rt 140 approximately 4 miles East of Greenville IL.  For information contact Ron Burns, Sr. at ronburns45@live.com or call 618-593-0533.   During the 2016 collection period the Detachment collected 5 large boxes of toys and $1006.29 in cash donations which were used to buy more toys for local distribution.