Our Mission at Angie’s Toy Chest
“Our mission is simple:
To spread joy across southeast Michigan by ensuring every child in Macomb County experiences the magic of Christmas.
Through toys, bicycles, and special gifts, Angie’s Toy Chest brings hope, dignity, and happiness to children and families who need it most during the holiday season.”
Angie Morelli
Founder of Angie’s Toy Chest
Toys for Tots – The Beginning
Toys for Tots was started in 1947 by Colonel Bill Hendricks when his wife made a little Raggedy Ann doll and wanted to give it to a needy child.
After a fruitless search for an agency or foundation that could handle this, Colonel Hendricks asked his fellow Marines to help him give toys away to needy children.
The first year they distributed 150 toys and every year the need seemed to grow. Thus “Toys for Toys” was established. Toys for Tots is a community action program that distributes gifts to millions of needy children every Christmas.
An early promotional photo from the Toys for Tots program. (Source: Wikipedia)
Angie's Toy Chest - 2016 Christmas Gala
Angie’s First Event in 1993
Angie’s Toy Chest “Toys for Tots” event grew from the original 75 attendees to over 1,100 participants in recent years and was recognized as being one of the largest privately sponsored one night events in the entire country.
Angie quotes a wise man that once said,
“No life is worth living unless it contributes to the happiness of another.”
She adds:
“It fulfilled a dream of mine and the Marine Corps Motto of ‘Every Child Deserves a Little Christmas.’ So many have contributed to the happiness of a child”.
Many children woke up Christmas morning to a bicycle or a special gift under the tree from Santa because of Angie’s Toy Chest.