U.S. Marines and Navy personnel deliver Christmas to the Ronald McDonald House

December 07, 2017

For Immediate Release

 

OTTAWA—U.S. Embassy Ottawa’s United States Marine Corps detachment and U.S. Navy personnel will deliver some holiday spirit on December 15 to the children at Ottawa’s Ronald McDonald House, bringing gifts donated through the annual Toys for Tots campaign. U.S. Ambassador to Canada Kelly Craft and her husband, Mr. Joe Craft, will take part in the event. Santa Claus will also make a special appearance.

WHAT: Toys for Tots event at Ronald McDonald House

WHEN: December 15, 2017

TIME: 10:00 a.m.

WHERE: 407 Smyth Rd.

The U.S. Embassy United States Marine Corps detachment has provided toys to children at the Ronald McDonald House through the Toys for Tots campaign for the past 11 years, and last year collected and delivered more than 200 toys.

Colonel William L. Hendricks (USMC) started Toys for Tots in 1947 in Los Angeles, California. Toys for Tots welcomes donations of new, unwrapped toys during October, November, and December, and delivers them to children as a message of hope and caring at Christmas.  The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation was created in September, 1991 as a permanent non-profit foundation, and in 1995 the U.S. Secretary of Defense approved Toys for Tots as an official activity of the U.S. Marine Corps and an official mission of the Marine Corps Reserve.

This local Toys for Tots campaign is driven entirely by the Marines and Navy personnel at the U.S. Embassy who collect the toys they bring to Ronald McDonald House.  Toys are distributed to children residing at the house not only in December, but also on occasions throughout the year.

Media are invited to attend and cover the event.

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