Toys for Tots teams with Good360 (again!) to provide comfort and emotional relief to families in Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee who were so tragically impacted by last week’s tornadoes.

16 December 2021 Triangle, VA – Our Nation mourns for the people of Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee who were so tragically affected by the devasting tornados last weekend. Our local Toys for Tots campaigns are working to ensure that the children who lost so much will receive something tangible on Christmas morning. The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation is also working with our phenomenal partner, Good360, to distribute truckloads of toys, books, and other gifts to impacted families in areas where there is no Toys for Tots program coverage.

These families have suffered devasting loss, and the financial and emotional impact will be long lasting—especially for those without the means to recover. At a time when families are already dealing with the challenges of the past two years and scarce resources brought about by supply chain issues, a natural disaster has completely upended their lives. In order to provide comfort, emotional relief and hope to these families, Toys for Tots plans to distribute toys, books, and other gifts to their children. Toys for Tots is more than a Flagship Children’s Christmastime charity – our goal is to provide year-round hope to families in need.

The Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program collects and distributes an average of 18 million toys to 7 million less fortunate children each year during the holiday season through a highly active and robust distribution network in over 830 local communities in all 50 states. Because our Marines and volunteers are currently engaged in our annual Christmastime mission, we have partnered with Good360, the global leader in product philanthropy and purposeful giving, to distribute these emotional relief packages to families in need through Good360’s network of vetted and approved nonprofit partners.

“The past couple of years has been tremendously challenging for just about every sector of our society, and the recent devastation caused by the tornadoes in Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee have added to the turmoil. We’re genuinely concerned about the impacted families and want to do what we can to provide hope for families-in-need. In these unrivaled times, we want to offer assistance now,” said LtGen Jim Laster, USMC (Retired), President & CEO of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. “We are proud to partner with Good360 who has answered the call to help get these toys into the hands of families in need as soon as possible.”[KH1]

Toys, books, and other gifts offer many benefits during this time of need. They will help to combat boredom, relieve anxiety in children, facilitate a return to normalcy, and hopefully contribute to the educational development of our nation’s most precious resource – our children.

“The challenges associated with disaster recovery are made all the more harrowing in the midst of the winter holiday season,” said Matt Connelly, CEO of Good360. “Long after the news cycles have moved on, Good360 and our partners will be here helping survivors weather the years-long road to recovery by providing a variety of goods, including personal and household items, rebuilding materials, and emergency relief supplies. That’s why we’re grateful for trusted donors, like Toys for Tots, who consistently show up for families in need. The toys and games they donate will be with children throughout that process.”

Toys for Tots and Good360 have complementary strengths, and this partnership continues to generate greater impact. Together we are more than just the sum of our parts – which presents us with the opportunity to provide assistance and relief when it’s needed most.

About Toys for Tots:

Toys for Tots, a 74-year national charitable program run by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, provides happiness, and hope to less fortunate children during each Christmas holiday season. The toys, books and other gifts collected and distributed by the Marines offer these children recognition, confidence, and a positive memory for a lifetime. Toys for Tots also provides support year-round to less fortunate families experiencing challenges and exceptional circumstances, thus sending a message of hope beyond the holiday season. It is such experiences that help children become responsible citizens and caring members of their community. Last year the Marine Toys for Tots Program fulfilled the holiday hopes and dreams of more than 7 million less fortunate children in over 830 communities nationwide. Since 1947 over 272 million children have been assisted. The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation is a not-for-profit organization authorized by the U.S. Marine Corps and the Department of Defense to provide fundraising and other necessary support for the annual Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program. For more information, visit www.toysfortots.org. 

About Good360:

Good360’s mission is to close the need gap by partnering with socially responsible companies to source highly needed donated goods and distribute them through its diverse network of more than 100,000 vetted nonprofits. In doing so, Good360 opens opportunity for those in need, for the nonprofits that support them, and for companies that donate the goods, all while keeping usable items out of landfills. Good360 has distributed more than $11 billion in donated goods thanks to corporate donors such as Advance Auto Parts, Amazon, American Eagle Outfitters, CVS Health, Gap, Inc., Levi Strauss & Company, Mattel, Tempur Sealy International, and UPS.  Good360 is a registered 501(c)(3) organization. Learn more at https://www.good360.org.