MARINES TO ACCEPT JESUS DOLL TOYS FOR TOTS PROGRAM REVERSES EARLIER DECISION.Byline: PATRICIA PATRICIA Practical Algorithm To Retrieve Information Coded In Alphanumeric PATRICIA Proving and Testability for Reliability Improvement of Complex Integrated Architectures PATRICIA PApilloma TRIal Cervical cancer In young Adults FARRELL AIDEM Staff Writer VALENCIA -- The Marine Corps Reserve did an about-face Wednesday, deciding to accept the Bible-reciting Jesus dolls that a Valencia company offered to its Toys for Tots Toys For Tots is a program run by the United States Marine Corps Reserve which donates toys to children whose parents cannot afford to buy them gifts for Christmas. The program was founded in 1947 by Major Bill Hendricks. program. The Marines took a public-relations hit from both Christian and secular organizations after the Daily News reported Tuesday that the toy charity had rejected a donation of 4,000 battery-operated Jesus, Virgin Mary Virgin Mary: see Mary. Virgin Mary immaculately conceived; mother of Jesus Christ. [N.T.: Matthew 1:18–25; 12:46–50; Luke 1:26–56; 11:27–28; John 2; 19:25–27] See : Purity , David, Moses and Esther dolls for its holiday giveaway. ``The talking Jesus doll issue has been resolved,'' the Marine organization announced on its Web site. ``Toys for Tots has found appropriate places for these items. We have notified the donor of our willingness to handle this transaction.'' The Beverly Hills Beverly Hills, city (1990 pop. 31,971), Los Angeles co., S Calif., completely surrounded by the city of Los Angeles; inc. 1914. The largely residential city is home to many motion-picture and television personalities. Teddy Bear Co., the Valencia company that markets the dolls, received countless calls Tuesday and Wednesday from charities asking for donations and isn't sure how many will be available now to Toys for Tots, said Mike La Roe, who heads the company's one2believe division. News of Toys for Tots' initial rejection raced around the world faster than Santa Claus Santa Claus: see Nicholas, Saint. Santa Claus jolly, gift-giving figure who visits children on Christmas Eve. [Christian Tradition: NCE, 1937] See : Christmas Santa Claus on Christmas Eve. ``The entire company has virtually shut down to support this entire situation in terms of answering phones, e-mails, voice mails ...,'' La Roe said. ``People are calling in support of us. A lot of people are saying if Toys for Tots doesn't want them, we'll take them.'' Queries came from as far away as Okinawa, Japan. A Canadian reporter called to ask who Esther was. (Persian Queen Esther saved the Jews from annihilation annihilation In physics, a reaction in which a particle and its antiparticle (see antimatter) collide and disappear. The annihilation releases energy equal to the original mass m multiplied by the square of the speed of light c, or E = m in her country, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. the Bible.) Retired Maj. Bill Grein, vice president of the Toys for Tots Foundation, said Monday the decision to turn the donation down was a tough one. But organizers are unable to match gifts to specific children and didn't want to offend a recipient with a Christian-themed toy. Grein could not be reached Wednesday for comment, but in a letter to David Sosha, president of Beverly Hills Teddy Bear, he said: ``Having reconsidered your kind offer of several thousand dolls last week, the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation would like to receive them. We believe that with some effort we will be able to find homes for them all.'' The company, which also has donated its teddy bears to charities, had excess inventory of the religious-themed dolls, La Roe said. Jesus is by far the most popular, Esther the least. Vicki Burch, a volunteer at the Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. Police Department's Foothill Station, was among those who planned to ask for a share of the dolls. Station Capt. Joseph Curreri, however, stood with Toys for Tots' initial concern and determined the dolls would not be appropriate to include in the 500 or so food and gift baskets A gift basket, or fruit basket is typically a gift that is delivered to the recipient at their home or workplace. There are different varieties of gift baskets, some which have fruit only, some with dry/canned goods only (such as tea, crackers and jam) although the standard the station delivers to needy families. ``I explained we can't accept them,'' Curreri said. ``We have to be very sensitive to people we're giving these baskets to.'' Curreri said he told Burch that if she received the dolls, she could donate them to a Christian church or hospital -- but as a private citizen, not a station representative. pat.aidem@dailynews.com (661) 257-5251 |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion