Embassy of the United States Ottawa, Canada

Santa with children from Ronald McDonald House.

On December 19th, United States Marines from U.S. Embassy Ottawa brought the holidays to the children of Ronald McDonald House. Accompanied by Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus, and Ambassador David Jacobson, the Marines brought toys and gifts collected through their annual Toys for Tots campaign. The Marines have worked with Ronald McDonald House for five years, and last year they collected more than 300 toys.

Toys for Tots was started in 1947 in Los Angeles, California by Colonel William L. Hendricks (USMC). It 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.

For more pictures from the event, check out our photo gallery!