The Operation Turn the Page initiative will provide students living in low-income communities with educational tools and help fuel their journeys to success—igniting imaginations and building brighter tomorrows.
"A backpack, notebook, or set of pencils might seem like small items, but for a child who has none of these essentials, they represent hope, dignity, and the chance to start school on equal footing with their peers," says LtGen Laster, CEO of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation.
National assessments show that two-thirds of American fourth graders are not reading proficiently—and more than a third are reading below grade level. Without early intervention, these children fall further behind—facing challenges in school that often carry into adulthood.
"Reading is the foundation for everything—education, opportunity, and lifelong success," LtGen Laster emphasizes. "With this initiative, we’re not just providing books to children in need—we’re providing hope, confidence, and the ability to dream bigger."
Operation Turn the Page focuses on reaching children in underserved communities who are attending Title I funded schools, where access to books and literacy resources is limited. By distributing educational resources through schools, libraries, and trusted community partners, the Program empowers children to strengthen reading skills—and unlock their full potential.
Toys for Tots partnered with the Tucson Police Department and local community leaders for the "Backpackin' for Children Campaign" which provided backpacks filled with school supplies and books to K–12 students across the local area.
When children received their backpacks, they didn’t just receive supplies—they received a message that their entire community believes in them. Police officers, teachers, volunteers, and donors all came together to say, "We see your potential, and we're here to help you succeed."
Eight-year-old Sofia, beaming with joy, told an officer, "This is the best backpack I’ve ever had!" But her smile said even more: "Thank you for believing in my potential."
The Program recently provided backpacks filled with school supplies and books to hundreds of local foster children in Mt Laurel, New Jersey, as part of their back-to-school summer distributions. Thanks to local Toys for Tots Coordinator, Gina Capate, and her team of volunteers, the foster children were welcomed into a space designed just for them—a place where joy, choice, and care were front and center.
"For many of the children we support, the books we provide might be the first book they’ve ever owned," LtGen Laster said. "Each one is a building block toward a brighter future and will open a world of possibilities and opportunities for these children," LtGen Laster added.
Through Operation Turn the Page, supporters help the Toys for Tots Literacy Program provide educational resources to disadvantaged children. In 2024, the Program delivered 2.8 million books—building confidence for children who once felt left behind, developing reading skills that create lifelong learners, and filling backpacks with possibilities.
To learn more about the Toys for Tots Literacy Program and to donate, visit their web page. Together, let's turn each book and backpack into a vessel of hope.
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Media Contact
Company Name: Marine Toys for Tots Foundation
Contact Person: Ted Silvester, Vice President of Marketing and Development
Email: Send Email
Phone: (703) 649-2021
City: Triangle
State: Virginia
Country: United States
Website: https://www.toysfortots.org/