In 1947, Diane Hendricks created the first toy for Toys for Tots: a handmade doll. She told her husband, Major Bill Hendricks of the United States Marine Corps Reserve, to donate the doll to an organization that would give it to a child in need for Christmas. However, since no such agency existed at the time, Bill started one. Bill and Marine reservists distributed around 5,000 toys in the first year. Due to the success, the Marine Corps adopted the program in 1948 and it became a nationwide campaign. Toys for Tots has collected more than 400 million toys for 188 million less-fortunate children for the holidays.
“Everyone deserves a little Christmas,” says Marty Hacker, also a retired Marine, who's been a volunteer with Lehigh Valley Toys for Tots for more than 30 years. Lehigh Valley Toys for Tots includes Lehigh and Northampton counties, and while their busy season runs October through Christmas, their warehouse in Bethlehem accepts new toy donations year round. Toys for Tots refurbished old toys until Christmas 1980, when the Marines decided to collect and distribute new toys only. The Marines wanted to give hope to children, and nothing sends that message better than a new toy. Hacker says he meets people that were once victims of fires—they lost everything weeks before Christmas and would receive no gifts if it weren't for Toys for Tots. “Toys for Tots steps up and makes sure Christmas happens,” he says. In addition to toys donated, Lehigh Valley Toys for Tots purchases a lot of toys, and they hold numerous fundraisers and receive corporate donations. “Every dollar raised and every toy gifted stays in the Lehigh Valley,” says Hacker.
