By Julia Peffer, BEAT reporter
Toys for Tots
The Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots is a toy-giving organization. It all started in 1947 when Major Bill Hendrick's wife made a wooden doll and told him to donate it to the needy. Bill looked everywhere and could not find such an organization. As a result, Toys for Tots was created.
In 1947, Major Hendricks and his marine unit in Los Angeles collected and donated over 5,000 toys to those less fortunate. When they saw the success of their donations, they made it a community action.
In 1948, Hendricks' civil job was a director of public relations at Warner Brothers studios. Through that job, Bill became friends with many celebrities, many of whom he asked to support the new organization. As a personal friend of Bill, Walt Disney designed the Toys for Tots logo that is still being used today.
Toys for Tots has grown to support children in need throughout both the United States and its territories. Every year, they have a spokesperson promote their company to spread the word. They distribute an average of 18 million toys, books and stocking-stuffers to seven million less-fortunate children in December. Over 800 collection sites, including one in Medina County, exist throughout the Unites States. "I buy new toys to give to the program every year," said Dennis Peffer, a Medina County veteran who donates to Toys for Tots.
"Medina County businesses and individuals were extremely generous this year. We couldn't be happier," said Bob Sukel, Medina County Toys for Tots coordinator. "Almost 8,000 toys were distributed to over 1,200 Medina County children this year. And, over 75 Medina County businesses helped to collect toys and donations for us. That's quite a lot."
Sukel said that, while the 2018 Toys for Tots campaign has concluded, they are collecting and storing toys for next year. Contact Sukel at (234) 248-6575 for more information. Also, donations can be made by visiting medina-oh.toysfortots.org.
Julia Peffer, a sixth-grader at Edwards Middle School,
is one of over fifty student "backpack journalists" (grades 6-12) in the award-winning BEAT Video Program. The program is sponsored by Scene75 (www.scene75.com), RPM, Plum Creek Assisted Living Community, Baskets Galore, Danbury Senior Living, Brunswick Eagles 3505, 100+ Women Who Care Medina, and the Brunswick Rotary Club. Go to www.thebeat22.com to learn more about the Program, or visit https://thebeat.viebit.com to view videos produced by the students.