Toys for Tots Refuses Jesus Dolls
When I first saw this story about Toys for Tots saying no thanks to a company wanting to donate Jesus dolls I thought, well duh, how can you give preachy Christian dolls to kids of all faiths? Then I went to the Toys for Tots website and read their mission statement. It specifically mentions that the toys are for Christmas. So given that Christmas is the celebration of Christ’s (Jesus’) birthday I think it’s perfectly ok to give kids Jesus dolls. It’s like giving a dreidle to a Jewish kid on Chanukah. And I’m sorry if you like to celebrate Christmas despite being another religion, but come on…think about why you’re doing it.
A talking Jesus doll has been turned down by the Marine Reserves’ Toys for Tots program.
A Los Angeles company offered to donate 4,000 of the 1 foot-tall dolls, which quote Bible verses, for distribution to needy children this holiday season. The battery-powered Jesus is one of several dolls manufactured by one2believe, a division of the Valencia-based Beverly Hills Teddy Bear Co., based on biblical figures.
But the charity balked because of the dolls’ religious nature.
Toys are donated to kids based on financial need and "we don’t know anything about their background, their religious affiliations," said Bill Grein, vice president of Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, in Quantico, Virginia.
As a government entity, Marines "don’t profess one religion over another," Grein said Tuesday. "We can’t take a chance on sending a talking Jesus doll to a Jewish family or a Muslim family."
Michael La Roe, director of business development for both companies, said the charity’s decision left him "surprised and disappointed."
"The idea was for them to be three-dimensional teaching tools for kids," La Roe said. "I believe as a churchgoing person, anyone can benefit from hearing the words of the Bible."
According to the company’s Web site, the button-activated, bearded Jesus, dressed in hand-sewn cloth outfits and sandals, recites Scripture such as "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again" and "Love your neighbor as yourself." It has a $20 retail value.
Grein questioned whether children would welcome a gift designed for religious instruction. "Kids want a gift for the holiday season that is fun," he said.
The program distributed 18 million stuffed animals, games, toy trucks and other gifts to children in 2005. Source
Tags: jesus dolls, toys for tots
1 Comment
They made the right decision. This has nothing to do with the two percent of us who are Jewish. What if your an eastern orthodox Christian, or Unitarian,or a Mormon, or you believe Jesus was black? Come on. You can’t allow people to promote their particular form of religion through Toys for Tots.