HOWARD COUNTY, MD — Attention! With the season of giving fast approaching, the Marine Toys for Tots campaigns are set to begin across the country.

The mission of the foundation is to collect new, unwrapped toys and distribute them to less fortunate children at Christmas. The nonprofit public charity was founded at the behest of the Marine Corps in 1991, and is still run exclusively by veteran Marines. Today, there are hundreds of local campaigns across the United States in which residents can donate toys, apply for toys and even host a Marine Toys for Tots fundraising event.

This year, the campaign in Howard County is kicked off Oct. 1. Ssgt. JT Bowman is the Toys for Tots Coordinator serving Howard County. Children selected to receive toys through the program will be notified of the pickup point after their application has been accepted.

Overall in 2018, 32,157 toys were distributed locally and 14,462 children were supported through the campaign in our county. The local campaigns are conducted annually in over 800 communities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, according to Toys for Tots. In the past year alone, the foundation collected and distributed 18 millions toys to 7 million less fortunate children.



Bowman told Patch that he plans to work with local VFWs and the American Legion to serve as drop-off sites, but any business or organization interested in participating can reach out to him. He also has nine self storage areas that assist with toy collection.

"We have dropped close to 100 Toys for Tots collections boxes and posters at each site. Businesses that become drop-off sites can come to the closest facility and pick up the materials. As the season progresses, they can drop off toys between now and Dec. 17. So far, I already have more than 18,000 children submitted who are hoping to receive toys," Bowman told Patch. Bowman also said that he is hoping to identify one or two distribution sites in Carroll and Howard counties to help out residents there, so that they do not have to travel to Baltimore to pick up toys.