Some children know Santa Claus best not wearing a large red suit with a large white beard, but rather in his dress blues uniform.
The Department of Defense highlighted on Monday the work of Marines who are part of Toys for Tots, a U.S. Marine Corps Reserve program that collects toys and raises funds for needy children for Christmas.
Capt. Peter Smith, a coordinator for Toys for Tots, spoke with DoD News about the organization and how, as Marines, their duty is not just overseas but at home as well.
"As a service member, I think all of us, when we sign up, we take an oath to protect the nation, and I think the greatest thing that we as service members do and give is that we make sacrifices," Smith said. "The Marine Corps is an organization that has fought many, many battles, many wars, and I think it's something I'm proud of that we take pride in being able to give back in our local communities."
"When we're not serving in war, when we're at war, we're still able to give back," Smith continued.
Smith also said that the organization relies heavily on volunteers from the community to assist with sorting and counting the toys they receive.