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First Lady Sorts ‘Toys for Tots' With Volunteers
(December 20, 2010) |
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| | JOINT BASE ANACOSTIA-BOLLING, D.C., Dec. 17, 2010 – First
Lady Michelle Obama joined military and civilian volunteers
here today to sort gifts for the Marine Corps Reserve's
“Toys for Tots” program, which collects and distributes
holiday gifts for underprivileged children. |
First Lady Michelle Obama and Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Eugene Sharpe
sort toys for the Marine Corps Reserve's “Toys for Tots” program at
a distribution center on Joint-Base Anacostia-Bolling, D.C., Dec.
17, 2010. Sharpe, of Dublin, Ga., is the Toys for Tots coordinator
for the national capital area. DOD photo by Terri Moon Cronk |
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"We're so proud of the work you do for the country and the fact that you are
putting it all out for kids across this country," she told the group in a
warehouse brimming with large, colorful gift boxes marked by age groups. "We
couldn't do it without your leadership."
Servicemembers' families play a big role in making the program work, Obama
noted. "It is just another tribute to the hard work that our military families
put into this country, after already sacrificing so much for this country," she
said.
The idea for Toys for Tots came from a Marine reservist and his wife more than
60 years ago, the first lady said.
"Ever since then,” she added, “our military members and their families have made
the holidays brighter for millions of kids all across the country. It's another
example of how military families are always willing to do their part for their
community." |
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Obama's motorcade to the event included a vanload of toys.
"We're here today because we want to do our part," she said.
"We've been collecting toys from our staff, and today we
brought as many as we could fit into one [vehicle], but
there's still more to come."
The first lady took the opportunity to ask the public to
contribute to the program, noting that it's now possible to
contribute toys online through the Marine Toys for Tots
Foundation's website, http://www.toysfortots.org. She also
asked people not only to think of infants and small children
when shopping for gifts, but also to keep older children in
mind.
"We're working with families with kids as old as 14 years,
and we want to be sure that these preteens and teens have
something to open on Christmas, too,” she said.
Clothing, books and backpacks are good gifts for that age
group, Obama said.
"If you've already donated for the little kids, and you want
to take one more shot at it for the bigger kids, we'd
encourage you to do so," she added.
People experiencing financial struggles know someone else
needs more of a hand up, Obama said, and participating in
the program does more than simply helping the gift
recipients.
"Taking the time to shop for another family really teaches
our kids the importance of giving at a time when they're
expecting to get,” the first lady said. “It teaches them by
your example."
Obama spent time with the troops and volunteers, sorting
toys into the decorated boxes that soon were overflowing
with presents.
Over the 62 years of Marine Corps Reserve's Toys for Tots
program, Marines have distributed more than 400 million toys
to more than 188 million children in need, according to the
foundation's website. | |
By Terri Moon Cronk
American Forces Press Service
Copyright 2010
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