Text for Toys for Tots

During these difficult economic times, for many families, the holiday season has become something that looms on the horizon, rather than being something to look forward to. And as many households struggle to pay the most basic of bills, the prospect of a Christmas without toys under the tree has become a reality.

The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, a not for profit organization that brings toys to economically disadvantaged children each year, reports that this year, not only are they are bracing themselves for a decline in toy donations due to the poor economy, but that more are families turning to them to help make the holiday season special for their children.

To help drum up more donations, Toys for Tots has launched a text messaging program that will allow people to donate $5 to the organization, simply by texting the word TOY to 90999.

"With so many deserving families in need of our assistance this year, we want to make it easy and affordable for the American public to help us deliver toys to children," says Lt. General Pete Osman, USMC (Ret), president and chief executive officer for the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. "If everyone would take out their phone and text the word TOY to 90999, we could achieve our goal of delivering a toy to every one of the 13 million U.S. children living in poverty."

To help spread the joy, toy giant Hasbro has pledged to donate one toy or game for every text donation completed through December 21, 2008, providing up to 150,000 toys and games.