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Virtual Holiday Extravaganza Raising Awareness of Toys for Tots (w. giveaways)

December 13, 2010 By Leticia

Last week Philly blogging friends Julie and Kelly invited me to join them for a live Chester County Moms Holiday Extravaganza and while I wasn’t able to make it having just returned from San Diego, I was thrilled to learn that they received over 1300 toy donations that will provide 450 local children with Christmas gifts through Toys for Tots!
I’m excited to be one of the participating bloggers in the Virtual Holiday Extravaganza to help raise awareness about Toys for Tots.  Each year I see Toys for Tots popping up everywhere.  They are at grocery stores, the local dry cleaner, and at every area Starbucks.  It always warms my heart to see the bin overflowing with new and unwrapped toys but never knew the history behind Toys for Tots until I was asked to participate in this campaign.
 
About Toys for Tots
 
Toys for Tots began in 1947, when Major Bill Hendricks, USCR and a group of Marine Reservists in Los Angeles collected and distributed 5,000 toys to needy children. The primary goal of Toys for Tots is to deliver, through a new toy at Christmas, a message of hope to less fortunate youngsters that will assist them in becoming responsible, productive, patriotic citizens.  The Marine Corps adopted Toys for Tots in 1948 and expanded it into a nationwide campaign and Marines have conducted successful nationwide campaigns at Christmas each year since 1948.

Over the 62 years of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program, Marines have distributed more than 400 million toys to more than 188 million needy children.  Over its 18 year life span, the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation has supplemented local toy collections with more than 81.3 million toys valued at more than $487 million.  Wow!


Throughout the week I’ll be sharing more information about Toys for Tots while giving away some items for you to keep or donate to local Toys for Tots efforts from these wonderful sponsors:  

Playmobil safe high quality toys are synonymous with creative play and are loved by children and parents alike to produce open ended play.   Parents place their trust in the brand for its expertise in providing high–quality products under the “Made in Europe” label.  One winner will receive the School Gym ($35.99) courtesy of Playmobil.
 

AboutOne online family management system designed to help busy families manage precious memories and household information. Designed by moms for moms (and dads too!), AboutOne only requires a few seconds to record events from ny location, any web- enabled device as they happen or when you have a free moment.  You’ll have quick access to that information when you need it in the future. Try a free trial for 15 days by visiting the AboutOne website.

 
Backyard Safari Outfitters prize pack that includes the Cargo Vest, Field Binocs, Mega View Periscope, Bug Vacuum (my favorite!), and the Adventurer Kit.  This prize pack has a value of approximately $91.95 and will fully outfit your child for outside adventures in any climate!
 
GIVEAWAY: Win one of the items above by leaving a comment to share how you support holiday giving in your community.  Do you donate for Toys for Tots, adopt a family in your community, or give back to local schools?  Share what you do to commemorate the spirit of giving and leave your email address or Twitter handle so I can contact you when you win!

For more chances to win, visit the Holiday Extravaganza 2010 Facebook page to link up with all of the bloggers participating in the Virtual Holiday Extravaganza!

As a member of the Holiday Extravaganza Digital Campaign, this post has been sponsored by Playmobil. I have received samples of all of the products and the companies are sending them to our winners. 


Fine print: Winner must provide a US mailing address.  No P.O. Boxes will be accepted.  Christmas delivery is not guaranteed. Winner will be emailed on December 17th and must reply within 24 hours or another winner will be selected.  Winner chosen via random.org.

Thanks for reading Tech Savvy Mama through your feed!

Original post by Tech Savvy Mama
©2012

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Filed Under: Parenting Tagged With: Giveaways, holidays, toys for tots, Virtual Holiday Extravaganza

Previous Post: « DC Readers: The Washington Ballet’s Nutcracker at the Warner Theater (w. ticket giveaway!)
Next Post: Virtual Holiday Extravaganza: Toys for Tots »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Susan @WhyMommy says

    December 13, 2010 at 11:07 pm

    Holiday giving is super important! We make holiday gifts to our school, surprising them with a needed item or a check outside of fundraisers, and involve the kids in choosing a worthy charity like World Vision or the local animal rescue league
    to support as well. Local + global!

  2. Amy Starr says

    December 13, 2010 at 11:40 pm

    We have already provided a filled stocking to be distributed to a child in our city, and we sponsor a child in India throughout the year, but we’re not done yet. Still mulling over all the possibilities! Thanks!

    starrgregandamy (at) gmail (dot) com

  3. Bonggamom says

    December 14, 2010 at 2:08 am

    Each of my kids picked out a tag on their school’s Holiday Giving Tree. I donated and toiletries to our local food pantry, and I co-hosted a holiday party at a family shelter where I gave out a Zhu Zhu pet to each child (courtesy of Cepia LLC)!

    If I do win the Playmobil set, I will definitely donate it — maybe to the family shelter, maybe to the Ronald McDonald House near us. We love Playmobil and I’m sure there are so many families who will love Playmobil as much as we do.

    bonggamom@yahoo.com

  4. Sam says

    December 14, 2010 at 9:15 am

    We adopt a family through my son’s school, we adopt a family through a professional organization and we donate to toys for tots. It is important to teach our children to give to those who have less than us!

  5. Melissa Corradi says

    December 14, 2010 at 12:38 pm

    This year I was lucky enough to attend the Holiday Extravaganza where I donated toys to Toys for Tots. dodgeavengersport99@yahoo.com

  6. mary says

    December 14, 2010 at 12:49 pm

    I adopt a family through my local social services agency!

    actionadventuregrrl@yahoo.com

  7. Heather says

    December 14, 2010 at 1:13 pm

    We support Toys For Tots most years and we always contribute to drives for our favorite children’s charity. Treehouse for kids. http://www.treehouseforkids.org/ They are an organization that helps foster children and their family.

    @HSlater351

  8. Jennifer says

    December 14, 2010 at 1:24 pm

    I love this time of year for just this reason, I love the feeling of giving…every single thing about it really. I am the person who buys and then can not wait to give it to you, making you open it early! I give to Toys for tots, who could resist making a child’s day bright by giving them a gift. I give items to both of my kids schools who adopt families and the other sponsors a school for severly autistic children to adults that are wards of the state. They get nothing if people do not donate. I wish I could give more this time of year!

  9. Molomatic says

    December 14, 2010 at 1:31 pm

    Yahoo! I love Toys for Tots and Playmobil, Playmobil toys are the best for open ended play! They also last forever. My daughter plays with a 30+ year old Playmobil pirate ship that used to my brother’s when he was a kid!

    I buy toys on sale throughout the year (starting with the after Xmas toy clearance sales). Then I donate them all to holiday toy drives. I have two bags for toys in my closet that I am going donate later this week.

    Thanks for the fabulous giveaway!

    molomatic at gmail dot com

  10. ls6791 says

    December 14, 2010 at 1:54 pm

    We donate to Toys for Tots each season (10 toys this year through Chesco moms) and buy gifts for a child of a high school student through my teacher friends’ school. My kids usually set aside gifts they receive for birthdays to donate at the holiday time!
    ls6791@yahoo.com

  11. Lori says

    December 14, 2010 at 2:19 pm

    We donate to Toys for Tots and adopt a child through my son’s preschool

    loriecaddoo@gmail.com

  12. Anonymous says

    December 14, 2010 at 6:06 pm

    We donate to Toys for Tots and bought presents for our church’s giving tree.

    butterflydoc
    at twitter

  13. Jessica McFadden says

    December 14, 2010 at 6:53 pm

    Both our kids’ classrooms are adopting a family, and we participate in several Toys for Tots, canned food drives and diaper drives around the holidays! Great post Leticia!

  14. Tabathia says

    December 14, 2010 at 11:09 pm

    We donate to toys for tots and participate in the angel tree
    tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com

  15. Amy DePaul says

    December 14, 2010 at 11:29 pm

    We donate to toys for tots (I just donated toys to Chester County Moms Holiday Extravaganza as well)…we also participate in adopt a family at my daughter’s school…just completed the little boy’s shopping today and hope he enjoys all we purchased for him!
    amyedepaul@aol.com
    @baybeenurseRN

  16. CARRIE says

    December 15, 2010 at 12:44 am

    We donated to the Toys for Tots at the Chester County Moms Holiday Extravaganza. It is an absolutly great cause. There is nothing like seeing the smiling faces on the Marines as you hand the toys to them, let alone imagining the look on a child in need’s face.
    carrienmarc@aol.com

  17. Thien-Kim aka Kim says

    December 15, 2010 at 2:41 am

    This is the first year that we’ve been able to donate to Toys For Tots. I feel very luck that blogging has given me the opportunity to do that! I’m donating some of the prizes I’ve won from blogs/contests to Toys for Tots.

  18. CT Mom says

    December 16, 2010 at 3:03 pm

    Every year we give a toy in a local toy drive, as well as donate money to St. Jude’s Children’s hospital.

    rmccoy1234@yahoo.com

  19. Elaine says

    December 16, 2010 at 4:08 pm

    This year, my family donated a gift card to the Mothers of North Arlington donation drive that went to women with children in shelters, we donated to the DC Food Bank – via Jessica’s A Parent in Silver Spring request, we give to Miriam’s Kitchen in DC – a kitchen that I have been associated with as a volunteer and donor for over 10 years that I highly recommend, and we donated to my children’s school so that the faculty could choose something off the wish list.

  20. Some Lucky Dog says

    December 16, 2010 at 5:48 pm

    Yes, we donate to Toys for Tots! It truly is one of the best programs out there. We also have a box of food and gifts ready that we are taking to our local food bank tomorrow. They deliver boxes to local families that need help and there are a lot right now (unemployment in our county is 18%).
    someluckydog at gmail dot com

  21. Alissa says

    December 17, 2010 at 2:42 am

    This is the first year we “adopted” a family and what fun I had shopping for those two kids! I also shop clearance sales throughout the year and save those for a general donation to Toys For Tots.
    alissa (at) funfindsforfamilies (dot) com

  22. Susanmeep says

    December 17, 2010 at 6:50 am

    Each year my children buy a toy for toys for tops. It is important to teach them to give of themselves. suelee1998 @ gmail.com

  23. Anonymous says

    December 18, 2010 at 4:51 pm

    Each year I try to do something different. This year I am donating a bunch of warm winter clothing (coats, sweaters, hats, and mittens) to a local family.

    -Heidi

    writeme at heidimail dot com

  24. Anonymous says

    December 18, 2010 at 4:56 pm

    I bring gently used clothing to the local thrift store which supplies families in need with financial support and warm clothing during our harsh winters in Minnesota.

    Coty.

    cotysloan at yahoo dot com

  25. justicecw says

    December 19, 2010 at 10:54 pm

    We donate to Toys For Tots every year. Toys For Tots is so important to me because I work in child welfare and they help so many kids that I work with. 🙂
    justicecw@hotmail.com

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