Years ago, Reed Marcum, a young boy in McAlester, Oklahoma, discovered that some children in his town were facing a bleak Christmas without any toys under their trees.
Having experienced the challenges of being a shy and bullied kid himself, Reed vividly remembered the feeling of exclusion. Despite his own parents’ divorce at the age of 7, Reed had experienced the generosity of others during Christmas, making the notion of his fifth-grade friend having nothing under the tree particularly poignant.
Motivated by empathy and a desire to make a difference, Reed approached his mother, Angie Miller, with an idea to organize a toy drive similar to the successful backpack drive they had conducted the previous year. Angie took to Facebook, sharing a video explaining her son’s compassionate initiative and appealing for donations of toys or funds to purchase toys for a giveaway. The project was designated as Reed’s 4-H project, and little did they know, it marked the beginning of an enduring tradition.
Miller said, “There was a great response—lots of people went out and bought new toys to donate, or they sent money for us to buy them.”
Fast forward seven years, Reed, now a university freshman, continues to make the two-and-a-half-hour journey from his campus in Stillwater to participate in the annual toy drive. The event, now in its seventh edition, has grown substantially, with 10,000 toys scheduled to be distributed this year through a drive-through format.
Excited children in the back seats eagerly point out their favorite toys, while each child receives essential items like socks, underwear, trousers, a shirt, gloves, and a hat.
Reed, who studies prelaw and sociology at OK State University, told the Washington Post. “We have walls of toys lined up on each side of the cars, and kids tell us which ones to grab as their parents drive them through the line. Seeing the happy looks on their faces is always the best part.”
In a town where the poverty rate stands at 24% according to international statistics, the impact of Reed’s annual toy drive has been significant. Over the years, a staggering 54,000 toys have been distributed to children in McAlester, bringing joy and warmth to many families facing economic hardships.
Reed’s commitment to giving back extends beyond the annual toy drive. Drawing inspiration from the kindness his family received over a decade ago, he has initiated other charitable programs. Silent auctions are organized to benefit pediatric cancer patients, and Reed continues the backpack giveaway that he and his mother started when he was just 11 years old.
Remarkably, Reed’s efforts have catalyzed the entire community. Residents speak of a collective desire to be part of his impactful work, and the local newspaper reports that his activities have raised an impressive sum of over $3.5 million.
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