Ellis County Toys for Tots campaign is preparing for a very busy season

ENNIS – This year the Ellis County Toys for Tots campaign is executing its 3rd Annual campaign season.

The Ellis County Marine Corps League Detachment 1452 created

this current campaign and is hosting it for the third year in a row.

This year’s campaign will be conducted from Oct. 1 – Dec. 21.

The campaign is also still in need of a warehouse location.

There are many opportunities for community members to take part in this highly successful campaign.

In 2020 the campaign assisted 2,600 children and 2021’s numbers more than doubled to 4,973 children.

We know the need is large, so the campaign’s mission is to assist every family and organization with needed toys, books, and stocking stuffers.  The campaign serves as sort of a clearinghouse of toys to various approved organizations that serve as agencies and toy distributors to families in need.

We need you. We need organizations to serve as agencies and toy distributors.

This method proved to be extremely beneficial in 2021.

This gives organizations an opportunity to make an impact when they may or may not have had the opportunity before.

It is easy to sign up and we will help you throughout the process.

Visit our website to sign up by using the ‘Agency and Non-Profit Request Form’ under ‘Request a Toy’ on the main menu, where there is a lot more information on qualifications, etc.

We also need volunteers! Until we have a warehouse to operate out of, we will not know our exact needs, but if you would like to help by volunteering, we would love to have you on our team.

Again, this year we are using the Volunteer Ellis County volunteer portal, hosted by the United Way of West Ellis County.

You can find us by visiting www.volunteerelliscounty.org.

The Ellis County Coordinator, Robert Bell, stated that, “The Toys for Tots program being in Ellis County is a huge advantage for our local children in need.

“Since 2020, the campaign has brought in over $25,500 worth of toys into the community from National Corporate Sponsors.

“This year we are expecting well over $13,000. That is toys, books, and stocking stuffers that we did not have to collect locally or purchase with our donated funds.

“We utilize local agency/distributor partners who accept family toy applications from families (in most cases) and then ultimately distribute those toys to those families in December.

“We are essentially the warehouse distributor (behind the scenes) where organizations can apply to help bring the joy of Christmas to those less fortunate.

“We need agency/distributor partners to help assist us in this effort and families who will apply through those organizations to receive toys.”

If you or someone you know would like more information, please visit the campaign website or contact the Campaign Coordinator, Robert Bell with his contact information above.

The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation is a nonprofit corporation with a 501 (c)3 designation within the Internal Revenue Code of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The Foundation is tax-exempt with the IRS and all donations to the Foundation are tax-deductible for the donor.