Giving Children Hope – Foster Care Initiative Backpack Distribution

In 2022, the Marine Toys for Tots Program expanded its mission to provide support beyond the holiday season. Our newly established Foster Care initiative is just one of many Programs that brings hope and emotional relief to children in need year-round.

Giving Children Hope, a non-profit organization that helps children and families in need in Southern California, hosted a backpack distribution to support Foster Care children in local communities of Orange County, CA. Backpacks filled to the brim with books, toys, school supplies, and a blanket were provided by Toys for Tots and the Sydney Paige Foundation. The backpacks were distributed to Olive Crest – Strong Families, and Safe Kids – an organization that supports the well-being of children and families in the local communities.

Earlier in August, representatives from the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, Giving Children Hope, With Honor, Marines from the local reserve unit, and NBA Alumnus, Rick Darnell, came together to distribute the gifts to local foster children!

Children and families enjoyed a day of fun by playing games and using their creative minds to make arts and crafts. The children in attendance also received haircuts before selecting their brand-new backpack filled with goodies! Donations of clothing, shoes, hygiene products, and more were distributed to ensure that the foster children have a successful start to the new school year.    

Through our Foster Care initiative, we are able provide foster children with resources that help them during extremely stressful and trying times with the goal of reducing their anxiety and making a positive impact on their lives. We are champions for those in Foster Care.