A touching video shows a young boy walking up to a U.S. Marine, trying really hard to get his attention.
“Excuse me, excuse me,” the nice boy says to the serious Marine standing guard. “Are you Santa Claus? I heard you could be him.”
The child then hands him a piece of paper and says, “if you are him, here’s my list.” The soldier breaks his position, gently reaching out to take the note…
The touching advertisement promotes the Marine Corps Toys for Tots program, which has been like Santa Claus for nearly 80 years, giving out over 652 million gifts to around 291 million kids all over the United States.
The Toys for Tots event was started in 1947 by Marine reservist Major Bill Hendricks and his wife Diane, who handcrafted toys and asked her husband to deliver them to an agency that helps children in need.
In that same year, Walt Disney and his team of animators got involved and created the train logo that we still see today. Disney continues to back this effort, letting fans buy toys for kids at their stores or online.
“The impact that Toys for Tots has on families is that they’re facing many economic issues right now, they have to choose between putting food on the table, paying their bills or getting a gift for their children,” Sgt. Robert Bacchus said in 2022, when the event celebrated its 75th anniversary. “We have the opportunity to take some of that burden off of their shoulder[s].”
Paralyzing poverty
According to 2023 statistics, 11 million of about 74 million children – or one out of every six – live in poverty across the U.S.
Taylor Price and her little brother were two of those kids.
A few years back, the brothers and sisters had to stay with different families because both of their parents were in federal prison.
Price recalls her baby brother leaving “little notes” on the Christmas tree that had no gifts sitting under it. The notes were for Santa and read, “all I want is my dad to come home for Christmas.”
Their dad didn’t come home for Christmas, but the kids started receiving toys from Toys for Tots, allowing them to experience some holiday magic.
Price, who is currently a coordinator for the Denison County chapter in Texas, shares, “I might not understand why some kids find themselves in tough situations. Some of them are lucky enough to be with their parents, while others aren’t. Being involved with Toys for Tots brings me so much joy because when I give a child a Christmas gift, I realize that even a small spark of hope can really change their lives.”
Holiday magic
The heart-melting commercial with the little boy and the soldier, demonstrates the Marine Corp’s slogan “Always Faithful,” which includes a “collective commitment” to the progress of the nation.
The marine doesn’t glance at the little boy, but when the boy stretches out his hand to give him his Christmas list, the child beams with happiness. As he walks away, he exclaims, “He’s Santa Claus!”
“You’ll help [kids] feel loved and valued … and you’ll give their hardworking parents the incomparable joy of making their children’s Christmas wishes come true,” Toys for Tots writes on its Facebook site.
Please let us know what you think of this story and then share it with your friends so we can let others know about this great initiative that runs year-round!
