CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Every Christmas, Toys for Tots reaches out to the community seeking support for families, particularly unwrapped toys for children who are less fortunate, and monetary donations, to help send a message of hope at Christmas.
Toys for Tots began 76 years ago when the wife of a Marine made a doll and wanted to give it to a child, and through the Marine Corp Reserve, the program grew and soon spread all over the country. The local Marine Corp League started Toys for Tots in Clarksville in 2008.
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Michael Kohler, a local retired Marine, took the program over in 2012, until he passed away in 2013, and his wife Jo took over. Jo Kohler is the community coordinator for Toys for Tots in Montgomery, Robertson and Cheatham counties in Tennessee, and Christian and Todd counties in Kentucky.
“The Toys for Tots program was made for families that are less fortunate and they just want those children to have something for Christmas. We provide toys, stuffed animals and books for those children that are in need,” Kohler said.
How it works
Toys for Tots holds an application process early in the season for families to apply for toys and Kohler said this year the organization received 1,092 individuals with eight groups providing a quantity of toys they would like to have. This year, the gifts will be handed out on Dec. 16.
“Each one of those children on the application will receive anywhere from two to four toys, stocking stuffers, books, games, or stuffed animals. Whatever the public donates is how they get most of our donations,” Kohler said.
How to help Toys for Tots
There are a number of donation points for Toys for Tots in the area. Kohler said there are sites all over Clarksville, with a few in Hopkinsville, Springfield and Cheatham counties. There are labeled boxes where you can drop off unwrapped toys and Kohler said they will make sure they get to needy children.
You are also invited to stop by the 5 Star Media Group Annual Toy Drive and be one of Santa’s helpers by donating toys, with part of those toys going to Toys for Tots. The toy drive is going on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 8 and 9, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at Walmart on Madison Street.
If you can’t make it out to the toy drive, donate via the Amazon Wishlist. You can also donate between now and Thursday, Dec. 7 at one of the 5 Star Media Toy Drive drop-off locations around Clarksville.
To find out more about how you can support Toys for Tots this holiday season through toys or monetary donations, visit toysfortots.org, email Clarksville.tn@toysfortots.org, or call Jo Kohler at the phone number on the website.
Giving Grace, sponsored by Grace Dental, is a Clarksville Now series showcasing local nonprofit organizations.