First Lady Michelle Obama talks to volunteers with Maj. Max Stapp, Toys for Tots program administrator, at the Toys for Tots headquarters in Stafford, Va. on Dec. 16, 2009. DoD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer William Selby.
By Ian Graham
The Toys for Tots collection center near Marine Corps Base Quantico got a special delivery today – six sacks and a few boxes of toys from the White House delivered by First Lady Michelle Obama.
Obama visited the center, which covers nine counties and 475 collection sites in Northern Virginia, to lend a hand and offer a personal “thank-you” to the volunteer Marines and civilians who man the small warehouse.
Marines don’t give up their regular duties to work with Toys for Tots, they do it in addition to their “day jobs,” Marine Maj. Max Stapp, the officer in charge of the Quantico campaign.
He said the civilian volunteers often work 12-hour days, showing up each morning as if it’s their day job, starting early in December and continuing through the holidays.
“That you show America that you can dig even deeper in this time and put your time and effort into making sure that kids all around this country have something wonderful to wake up to on Christmas morning, that’s what America is all about,” Obama said. “We are so proud and so grateful for what you are doing for this country, what you’ve done for this effort, and we will be a part of this as long as I’m in the White House.”
It’s this sense of service and giving that to me exemplify the holiday season. But like Veteran’s Day, it’s a bittersweet concept.
Of course it’s admirable that people give so much around the holidays, but it tugs at me a little bit that the spirit of selflessness disappears shortly after New Year’s Day. I don’t claim to be any better than anyone else in this sense, but it still floats in the back of my head, reminding me that the other 11/12ths of the year, people are going without, and they don’t have touching commercials reminding people to give.
Please, don’t misunderstand me. I think Toys for Tots is a great program: it was always a part of my Christmas experience growing up to pick out a few extra presents as we shopped to drop in the box at the mall or the toy store, and certainly helped shape my idea of the holidays (thanks, mom and dad).
Toys are dislpayed at the Toys for Tots headquarters in Stafford, Va. on Dec. 16, 2009. First Lady, Michelle Obama visited the headquarters and spoke with the volunteers. DoD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer William Selby.
I was moved today especially when it was noted that toys for 11-14-year-olds were sorely lacking. Obviously, between 11 and 14 there’s a significant change in interest. In my case, my wish list changed from Legos to electric guitars, for girls Barbie and Ken will have given way to Twilight, fashion and Zac Efron. There are plenty of things any tween will enjoy – a quick Google search will tell you everything you could want to know – so keep them in mind, too.
In the next few days, as I finish my gift-buying, I’ll be picking up a few items for Toys for Tots. I’ll also be asking friends and family to donate on my behalf, if they haven’t already gotten me a gift. What I’d really like is for people to continue to give when it isn’t a widely publicized, seasonal tradition – because charity is a virtue, not a holiday event.
Recent Comments