The Grinch won't steal Christmas from Rhode Island kids, with the current government shutdown. The United States Marines will come through, as they continue their efforts to ensure there will be “Toys for Tots” in 2025. Corporal Mitchell Barstow-Coordinator of the Marine Toys for Tots Campaign in Providence, Rhode Island joins us to kick off the season of giving which started October 1st and runs through to Christmas. He explains how this organized act of kindness started in 1947 with Marine Corps Reserve officer, Major Bill Hendricks, along with his wife Diane. She handmade a few dolls during the holidays that year and Major Hendricks gathered the Marines in his unit to create a way to donate the dolls to children in need. They realized the impact of the collection and distribution of 5,000 toys that year and the Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen Clifton B. Cates directed all Reserve units to implement a Toys for Tots campaign in 1948, making the program national. “More than seventy-five years later, Toys for Tots now distributes an average of 18 million toys and books to over 7 million less fortunate children across the Nation”. Closer to home, Corporal Barstow continues with details of the impact in 2024 for the (just under) 30,000 RI children who received a total of 195k+ toys. He encourages everyone to visit the website (https://providence-ri.toysfortots.org) for toy, drop site, volunteer, and event requests. You can volunteer for this joyful activity starting November 17th. Semper Fidelis.