Batteries Plus Bulbs is Helping to Make the Holidays a Little Bit Happier

This year, Batteries Plus Bulbs is partnering with Duracell to provide batteries for Toys for Tots opens in new window. Created in 1947, Toys for Tots is an official program of the U.S. Marine Corps, which collects new unwrapped toys to distribute to needy children. Donation campaigns are conducted from October to December each year in over 800 communities throughout the nation. Last year alone, the organization delivered 18.6 million toys to 7.3 million children.

As part of their mission, Toys for Tots promises that all of the gifts they deliver will arrive complete, without the need for additional components. Toys for Tots Vice President of Marketing and Development Ted Silvester explained, “We do not distribute incomplete toys and we consider a toy without required batteries an incomplete toy.” Since many of the donations the organization receives are battery-powered items, Toys for Tots requires a large number of batteries before these toys can be handed out.

That’s where we step in. This year, Batteries Plus Bulbs, together with Duracell, is donating 60,000 AA batteries to Toys for Tots. That’s over 4200 lbs. of batteries! Andrew Wales, Senior Sales Manager for Duracell - North America, spoke about this partnership, “In these uncertain times, Duracell^® in partnership with Batteries Plus is proud to come together this holiday season to support the Toys for Tots program and help Santa make sure all those toys and games will have the power needed to be up and running on Christmas morning.”

Ted explained the impact this donation has for his organization, “Although we regularly receive battery donations, we still have a need to spend dollars for batteries (that we would prefer to be spent on toys). So, any battery donations have double the effect – making an incomplete toy whole, while allowing us to use available dollars to purchase additional toys.”

Batteries Plus Bulbs CEO Scott Williams spoke about the company’s social commitment, “From helping with relief efforts during tropical storms opens in new window to providing essential power to first responders, our stores are deeply invested in the communities that we serve. Toys for Tots fits perfectly with our community-focused efforts. We hope this donation will help bring hope to children and communities that are underserved, because everyone deserves to have a happy holiday.”

If you’re interested in contributing to this worthy cause, find out more about the many different ways you can donate to Toys for Tots opens in new window.