Toys For Tots 2019: Campaigns Starting In Fredericksburg

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.

This year, the Toys for Tots campaign in Fredericksburg is already underway. Gunnery Sgt. Mack Stuckey is the coordinator for Fredericksburg.

Some nearby drop-off locations include:

• Hearthside Foods Solutions, 37 McLane Dr., Fredericksburg
• Mullins and Thompson Funeral Service, 1621 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Fredericksburg
• Marco's Pizza, 316 White Oak Rd. #109, Fredericksburg
• Germanna Community College, 10000 Germanna Point Dr., Fredericksburg
• Pep Boys, 2384 Plank Rd., Fredericksburg
• CPR- Cell Phone Repair, 3142 Cowan Blvd., Fredericksburg

See a full list of area public drop-off locations.

Those collecting toys may drop off at the main warehouse at 736 Warrenton Rd. in Fredericksburg. Donations will be collected through Dec. 12 with the season ending Dec. 15.

Warehouse hours are as follows:

November
9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday
Closed Nov. 21-25

December
9 a.m. to 6 p.m., 7 days per week

The following nearby hub sites can take in toys and boxes at the end of collection. They do not distribute supplies.

• uBreakifix, 1909 Plank Rd., Fredericksburg

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

Overall in 2018, 106,947 toys were distributed locally and 89,755 children were supported through the campaign in our area.

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.