December 13th, 2019
By: Cadet Kyle Holton
Toys for Tots, a program conducted by the United States Marine Corps Reserves, collects new, unwrapped toys for less fortunate children. Toys for Tots started in 1947 when retired Marine Major Bill Hendricks and his wife Diane started collecting and making toys for kids in the Los Angeles area (www.marinescorps.gov).
The Marine currently heading up the Montgomery area Toys for Tots campaign is Marine Sgt. Overholtz. Sgt. Overholtz has been in the Marine Corps for 7 years and over Toys for Tots for three years. He says they hope to help at least 10,000 families this year and have already collected 20,000 toys. On December 5th, 10 cadets from Southern Prep had the opportunity to lend the Marines a helping hand in this community project by distributing toys to 200 individuals. The cadets were kept busy helping find toys for children of various ages as well as taking toys to vehicles, where they helped with loading. A couple of cadets even became babysitters for the day by keeping an eye on younger children who accompanied parents and grandparents!
All the cadets had a great time helping and can’t wait to continue this Ranger tradition by participating again next year!! The local Toys for Tots program had already distributed toys to almost 3,000 people this holiday season.
