It started in 1947, but it has just branched out. We are a force in readiness - but we're loving people just the same. We also like to do good for everybody. The American people trust us. The toy collection begins in early November, when red barrels bearing the Toys for Tots emblem begin to appear outside toy stores, department stores, and other local business establishments.
Organizers ask for donations of new toys in their original packaging.
The Marines collect all the barrels of toys by the Dec. 16, then distribute them on Dec. 19 at the Cal Expo Center in Sacramento. The toy giveaway is done in conjunction with the food drive organized by the Salvation Army. The uniqueness of the program lies in the fact that patrons who give to the charity know exactly where their contributions are going. When individuals drop change in the buckets of the Salvation Army or any other charity foundation, they do not know where that money is going, or who exactly it is benefiting. When people buy toys and drop them in the barrels around Sacramento, they know that their gift will bring a smile to a child somewhere.