We’re throwing an Ugly Christmas Sweater Party on Wednesday, December 21st! Best of all, it’s a Toys for Tots benefit. So, dig up that holiday sweater and get ready to dance the night away with live music from Lukewarm and the Moderates! Bring an unwrapped new toy as a Toys for Tots donation and get in FREE! Grinches (those who don’t bring a toy) pay $5. Doors 8:30pm. Music starts at 9pm. In the tap room, 21+. During the night, we’ll even be giving away prizes for the three ugliest Christmas sweaters we see, so don’t hold back!
Here’s what Toys for Tots says about their organization: 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 idea came form Bill’s wife, Diane. In the fall of 1947, Diane crafted a homemade doll and asked Bill to deliver the doll to an organization, which would give it to a needy child at Christmas. When Bill determined that no agency existed, Diane told Bill that he should start one. He did.
The mission of the Toys for Tots Program is to collect new, unwrapped toys during October, November and December each year, and distribute those toys as Christmas gifts to needy children in the community in which the campaign is conducted. The objectives of Toys for Tots are to help less fortunate children throughout the United States experience the joy of Christmas; to play an active role in the development of one of our nation’s most valuable resources – our children; to unite all members of local communities in a common cause for three months each year during the annual toy collection and distribution campaign; and to contribute to better communities in the future.
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. Sadly, this year, the organization is feeling the recession just like everyone else and the need is great for toy donations.