11/01/2026
🎄🚒 MARTINEZ LAKE FIRE DISTRICT PROUDLY SUPPORTS TOYS FOR TOTS! 🎁🧸
Every Child Deserves a Little Christmas Magic! ❤️ The donation box is at the main station and ready to fill!
The mission of the Marine Toys for Tots Program is to bring the joy of Christmas and a message of hope to children in need through the gift of a new toy.
🎅 How Did Toys for Tots Begin?
The story began in 1947 when Marine Corps Reserve Major Bill Hendricks and his wife, Diane, wanted to make Christmas brighter for children who might otherwise go without.
Diane had handcrafted a doll and asked her husband to donate it to an organization that would give it to a child in need. When Bill discovered there wasn't a local organization dedicated to collecting and distributing toys, Diane encouraged him to start one.
That simple act of kindness inspired the very first Toys for Tots campaign in Los Angeles, where Marines collected and distributed approximately 5,000 toys to children that Christmas.
In 1948, the United States Marine Corps Reserve adopted the program, beginning a tradition of generosity that has continued for generations.
🇺🇸 DID YOU KNOW? Martinez Lake Fire District Proudly Supports Our Military Families!
Our commitment to those who serve extends far beyond the firehouse.
Martinez Lake Fire District proudly supports our nation's military, veterans, and their families through our focused efforts to recruit and hire veterans and military family members.
We are especially proud to recognize members of our own fire district family who share this connection to military service:
🇺🇸 Dan Goodwin — Fire Chief
United States Military Veteran
🇺🇸 Jodi Little — Administrator/Volunteer
Proud Veteran Spouse
🇺🇸 Richie Rubi — Firefighter/EMT
United States Military Veteran
🇺🇸 Will Koppelman — Firefighter
United States Military Veteran
🇺🇸 Jacob Goodwin — EMT/Volunteer
Proud Veteran Son
These individuals represent something very special to our district: a continued commitment to service. Whether through military service, supporting a military spouse, or answering the call to protect our local community, their dedication reflects the values upon which our fire district is built.
We recognize the dedication, discipline, sacrifice, and sense of service that military families bring to our community. Providing opportunities for those who have served, and the families who stand beside them, is one small way we can show our appreciation.
Supporting Toys for Tots is another meaningful way we can honor that commitment and stand alongside the United States Marine Corps in giving back to the communities we proudly serve. 🇺🇸❤️
🚒 Our Mission at Martinez Lake Fire District
At Martinez Lake Fire District, serving our community means more than responding to emergencies. It means looking after our neighbors, supporting families, and finding ways to make a positive difference in the lives of those around us.
This holiday season, we are proud to support the Toys for Tots mission and help spread a little Christmas magic throughout our community.
We believe that even the smallest act of kindness can make an extraordinary difference, especially in the heart of a child.
🎁 One Toy. One Smile. One Community Coming Together.
From our firehouse family to yours, thank you for helping us keep the spirit of giving alive.
🚒❤️ Martinez Lake Fire District — Proudly Serving Our Community, On and Off the Fireground.