Toys for Tots

Holiday traditions ... sleigh rides, decorations, stockings hung by the chimney with care... candy canes, caroling, wishing peace and good cheer. For most of us, it is a joyous, sacred, and bountiful time of year.

But for some families with children, economic realities make the holidays difficult. Families in need have all they can do to ensure their children have enough to eat, warm clothes to wear, and a roof overhead. Holiday gifts for the young ones might not fit into the budget.

That’s where the wonderful annual toy drive known as Toys for Tots comes in. This program, administered by the Marine Corps Reserve, and embraced and amplified once again this year by the Massachusetts State Police, strives to ensure that all children, regardless of their family’s situation, have gifts at the holidays.

This year marks the 35th anniversary of the Massachusetts State Police Department’s involvement in Toys for Tots. Please consider lending your support. To families whose children might otherwise have no gifts, your donations of new, unwrapped, non-violent toys for boys or girls, ages infant to 14, might make all the difference in the world.

Toys can be dropped off at any Massachusetts State Police Barracks through Friday, Dec. 13. Barracks locations are listed on the Department’s web site, https://www.mass.gov/orgs/massachusetts-state-police.

Those needing assistance requesting toys, and who are not currently working with a nonprofit agency/organization or church, are encouraged to check with their local Toys For Tots county campaign. Every Toys For Tots county handles individual family requests differently. It is important that those individual families register in timely manner. The following website will assist with the selection of the individual Toys For Tots counties in Massachusetts: (http://www.toysfortots.org/request_t…/toys-city-county.aspx…)

Massachusetts State Police Toys for Tots video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQXF2Nmw9fY

Thank you in advance for your consideration, and for making Toys for Tots one of your own holiday traditions!