Toys For Tots: Campaigns Starting In Metro Atlanta

With the season of giving fast approaching, the Marine Toys for Tots campaigns are set to begin across the country.

The mission of the foundation is to collect new, unwrapped toys and distribute them to less fortunate children at Christmas. The nonprofit public charity was founded at the behest of the Marine Corps in 1991, and is still run exclusively by veteran Marines.

Today, there are hundreds of local campaigns across the United States in which residents can donate toys, apply for toys and even host a Marine Toys for Tots fundraising event.

Campaigns throughout metro Atlanta kicked off on October 1. Kelly Wilson is the Toys for Tots Coordinator for DeKalb, Cobb and Fulton counties.

Children selected to receive toys through the program will be notified of the pickup point after their application has been accepted.

The local campaigns are conducted annually in over 800 communities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, according to Toys for Tots. In the past year alone, the foundation collected and distributed 18 millions toys to 7 million less fortunate children.

The nonprofit also partners with 12 major sponsors that have contributed at least $2 million in toys. The sponsors include Hallmark, the Walt Disney Company, the UPS Store and Kmart.

Toys for Tots allows participants to make a donation in 10 different ways: donate online, donate in memory or in honor, donate through the holiday recognition program, donate toys, donate by mail, CrowdFunding, employer gift matching, planned giving and supporting through the Native American Program.