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Reclaiming Your Childhood, Tuesday, Period [12/2]
Tuesday, December 2nd, 2025 02:16 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
atreideslionessStudents had been summoned to the steps of the school today, for another trip off-island.
Ghanima and Trebor were waiting, Trebor bundled appropriately, Ghanima dressed in modern civilian clothing.
"Today, we are going to an American mall," she said crisply once everyone had arrived. "But not for ourselves -- we are on a mission."
"Many children, if they are privileged, often help their parents or guardians pick out toys for other children this time of year. There's many programs that work to get holiday gifts into the hands of children who otherwise will go without."
"Today, we are shopping for Toys for Tots."
"Toys for Tots is a program run by the United States Marine Corps Reserve which distributes toys to children whose parents cannot afford to buy them gifts for Christmas. It was founded in 1947 by reservist Major Bill Hendricks, when he was inspired by his wife Diane when she tried to donate a homemade Raggedy Ann doll to a needy child but could not find any organization to do so. At her suggestion, he gathered a group of local Marine reservists, including Lieutenant Colonel John Hampton, who coordinated and collected some 5,000 toys for local children that year from collection bins placed outside Warner Bros. movie theaters. It was considered so successful, that in 1948, a feasibility report for the Marines using it as a national public relations and recruitment tool was written by Maj. Donald G Clarke USMCR, and Toys For Tots was launched as a national campaign. Hendricks used his position as director of Public Relations for Warner Brothers Studio to enlist celebrity support, as well as have Walt Disney and his animators design the red toy train logo."
"Until 1979, Marine reservists -- frequently in their dress blue uniforms -- and volunteers would collect and refurbish used toys. In 1980, only new toys were accepted, as reservists were no longer able to dedicate drill hours to refurbishing toys, as well as legal concerns, to prevent the accidental giving of recalled items, and the mixed message of giving hand-me-downs as a message of hope." Ghanima smiled slightly. "While donating gently-used items can come from a genuine place of philanthropy, the fact remains that every child deserves something just for them, that has not already been loved by other hands."
"The charity has also expanded year-round efforts that extend support to underprivileged children across the Nation outside of Christmastime. They have a Literacy Program dedicated towards providing age-appropriate books to children in low-income neighborhoods to break the cycle of poverty, and they also have a Native American Program that donates toys and books to children on participating remote Reservations in collaborative support with the Office of the Vice President of the Navajo Nation's Navajo Literacy Program."
"Today, each one of you gets two-hundred and fifty dollars, cash," she continued, handing the bundles of cash to Trebor to hand out. "I am not going to police how you spend it, but I am going to ask that you spend the bulk of it on toys you genuinely think a child would want, or, if you do not feel that you you have a grasp on how children think, then pick out something you know you would have wanted desperately as a child." She rested a hand on Trebor's head, looking down at him. "There's always that child who is a little bit different than everyone else, and is most likely wishing for something that wouldn't occur to people who haven't lived outside the status quo."
"And I'd like you to purchase one thing today for your own inner child, to keep, if you are comfortable doing that."
"It can be books, stuffed animals, legos, a bicycle...the options are endless." The portal to a totally normal mall opened up behind her, and Ghanima gestured towards it. "Let's go shopping, then we'll do a quick detour to the Balitmore toy drop-off site with our donations."
Ghanima and Trebor were waiting, Trebor bundled appropriately, Ghanima dressed in modern civilian clothing.
"Today, we are going to an American mall," she said crisply once everyone had arrived. "But not for ourselves -- we are on a mission."
"Many children, if they are privileged, often help their parents or guardians pick out toys for other children this time of year. There's many programs that work to get holiday gifts into the hands of children who otherwise will go without."
"Today, we are shopping for Toys for Tots."
"Toys for Tots is a program run by the United States Marine Corps Reserve which distributes toys to children whose parents cannot afford to buy them gifts for Christmas. It was founded in 1947 by reservist Major Bill Hendricks, when he was inspired by his wife Diane when she tried to donate a homemade Raggedy Ann doll to a needy child but could not find any organization to do so. At her suggestion, he gathered a group of local Marine reservists, including Lieutenant Colonel John Hampton, who coordinated and collected some 5,000 toys for local children that year from collection bins placed outside Warner Bros. movie theaters. It was considered so successful, that in 1948, a feasibility report for the Marines using it as a national public relations and recruitment tool was written by Maj. Donald G Clarke USMCR, and Toys For Tots was launched as a national campaign. Hendricks used his position as director of Public Relations for Warner Brothers Studio to enlist celebrity support, as well as have Walt Disney and his animators design the red toy train logo."
"Until 1979, Marine reservists -- frequently in their dress blue uniforms -- and volunteers would collect and refurbish used toys. In 1980, only new toys were accepted, as reservists were no longer able to dedicate drill hours to refurbishing toys, as well as legal concerns, to prevent the accidental giving of recalled items, and the mixed message of giving hand-me-downs as a message of hope." Ghanima smiled slightly. "While donating gently-used items can come from a genuine place of philanthropy, the fact remains that every child deserves something just for them, that has not already been loved by other hands."
"The charity has also expanded year-round efforts that extend support to underprivileged children across the Nation outside of Christmastime. They have a Literacy Program dedicated towards providing age-appropriate books to children in low-income neighborhoods to break the cycle of poverty, and they also have a Native American Program that donates toys and books to children on participating remote Reservations in collaborative support with the Office of the Vice President of the Navajo Nation's Navajo Literacy Program."
"Today, each one of you gets two-hundred and fifty dollars, cash," she continued, handing the bundles of cash to Trebor to hand out. "I am not going to police how you spend it, but I am going to ask that you spend the bulk of it on toys you genuinely think a child would want, or, if you do not feel that you you have a grasp on how children think, then pick out something you know you would have wanted desperately as a child." She rested a hand on Trebor's head, looking down at him. "There's always that child who is a little bit different than everyone else, and is most likely wishing for something that wouldn't occur to people who haven't lived outside the status quo."
"And I'd like you to purchase one thing today for your own inner child, to keep, if you are comfortable doing that."
"It can be books, stuffed animals, legos, a bicycle...the options are endless." The portal to a totally normal mall opened up behind her, and Ghanima gestured towards it. "Let's go shopping, then we'll do a quick detour to the Balitmore toy drop-off site with our donations."