Marines on a mission

This one is the Marines’ Toys for Tots program, and it’s well underway for this year. In 2005, the Marine program distributed 18 million stuffed animals, games, toy trucks and other gifts to needy children. The campaign kicked off today to gather these toys for delivery this year.

You’ve probably heard of the Toys for Tots program, but the story behind it is really remarkable.

Children are one of our nation’s most valuable natural resources. Today’s children are tomorrow’s leaders – civic, business and social. Alarmingly, approximately 14 million American children live in poverty. Studies reveal that growing up in poverty can have an adverse psychological impact on a child. One of the adverse impacts is low self-esteem – a by-product of little or no hope for the future.

Each child has a choice of two paths to the future. One path leads to a productive life as an asset to the community. The other path leads to a life of dependency on the community for support. Without outside help, the path of least resistance is too often the path to a life of dependency.

The critical social issue is the identification and pursuit of programs, which will create or raise the self-esteem of children, give them hope for the future and help steer them toward productive lives. One of the best means of dealing with these three poverty by-products is through mentoring programs. Since it is not possible for all children who live in poverty situations to have the benefit of mentoring programs, alternative means of doing the job must be pursued. Fortunately, alternative programs exist. Toys for Tots is one such alternative. It is a unique passive mentoring program that provides a ray of hope for the future.

The shiny new toy which millions of needy children receive each Christmas from Marines, through the Toys for Tots program, delivers a message of hope. By being excellent role models and setting an example for others to emulate, Marines, through Toys for Tots, perform passive mentoring. Economically disadvantaged children who receive toys through the Toys for Tots program have an opportunity to observe first hand how young men and women, just like themselves, have achieved success. Youngsters readily recognize that Marines achieve their success through adherence to the highest standards of discipline, grooming, patriotism, physical fitness and moral character. The fact that Marines are trained for combat and are prepared to face nearly unendurable hardships is not lost on needy children. Nor is the fact lost that these same combat trained Marines find time to be compassionate for the less fortunate members of America’s society. Even more importantly, children are impressed by the willingness of Marines to work overtime to do something for them. Marines set an example for youngster to strive to emulate.

Years ago on a really cold Saturday afternoon, I was driving through Chicago and encountered the incredible sight of the longest motorcycle parade I’ve ever seen, each with a toy attached somehow, and all the drivers looking proud and waving to people who honked or waved along the way. Turns out it was part of this annual event, and the pride grows with the tradition.

Starting on a cold Chicago winter day in December 1978, a group of six friends lead by a Vietnam Veteran, jumped on their motorcycles to deliver presents to needy children.

Little did they know that the kindness in their hearts, would become one of the biggest charitable traditions in Chicago. For twenty-eight years, Chicagoland motorcyclists have joined forces with the United States Marines, to assist their Toys for Tots program. What started among friends has grown into the Chicagoland Toys for Tots Motorcycle Parade.

It is held on the first Sunday in December…rain, snow, or shine. There is only one rule to participate:
You must bring a toy and deliver it on a motorcycle  What unifies the thousands of volunteers is their heart felt mission to place a new toy in the hands of a child.

Every child deserves a Christmas.

That’s a mission everyone can support.