Once again this year, Stan's Roofing and Siding has decided to be a drop off location for new unwrapped toys to donate to the Toys for Tots foundation.
The organization officially started in 1948. Major Bill Hicks and his wife Maj as well as marines in his reserve unit collected and distributed 5000 toys in 1947. Due to that amazing community effort, the Commandant chose to have all Reserve Locations to do the same starting in 1948.


Not only do they collect the toys and distribute them, they also raise money, purchase toys, and provide promotional and other supporting materials for others to assist in the collections.
Many celebrities have also joined the cause. The first posters and the current logo was created by Walt Disney himself. Many of his famous characters have been seen on advertisements and posters for the cause since. In 1956 the Toys For Tots theme song was written. Nat King Cole along with Peggy Lee and Vic Damone sang the theme in the first official recording. Professional athletic teams have also helped collect donations by making a special "bring a toy game" theme in which ticket holders brought toys with and dropped off at the gates.


At one point in the 80's, they changed the program from collecting any and all toys, to specifically new toys only.


While our Marines were over seas during Desert Shield/Storm, the US continued the tradition of collecting and donating. Wheel of Fortune and Pizza Hut joined forces and ran a three week promotion that raised nearly $3,000,000. They also claimed many different records in the Guiness Book of World Records during that time.


In 1996 Garth Brooks showed his support by having concerts dedicated to the foundation as well as public service announcements to help local programs.


December of 2001, special events were held for the children whom lost a parent in the 9/11 tragedies. First lady Michelle Obama volunteered to help the foundation for the 8 straight years her husband served as President.


The UPS Store and Mail Boxes Etc launched the TFT Literacy Program to provide books to children. By 2013, TFT had many national corporate sponsors including Nascar. Before its closing, Toys R Us raised nearly $6.7 million dollars as well as collected more than 220,000 toys for children in need all across the country. Hasbro has since become the largest corporate supporters to the foundation. You can help too. Please bring unused/new toys unwrapped to our Romeoville office between the working hours of 9am-5pm Monday-Friday.