Mila

Mila, from Region 3, Florida has become a well-established year-round force for good. As a Youth Ambassador for Toys for Tots, she’s been making a difference in her community since 2020—and she’s just getting started.

Mila’s path began at the height of the pandemic, when she was searching for meaningful ways to give back. A quick online search led her to Toys for Tots. –– After a call to the Foundation’s National Headquarters for more information, she found herself meeting with GySgt. Mike Stuckey, Deputy Vice President of Operations at the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, and leader of the Toys for Tots Youth Ambassador Program.

Just a few short weeks later, Mila received another call: an invitation to become a Toys for Tots Youth Ambassador.

From organizing Amazon wish lists and leading toy drives, to visiting foster homes and reading to kids at local Boys & Girls Clubs, Mila has embraced her role with passion and purpose. Her dedication has set the tone for what it means to be a Youth Ambassador—leading by example and inspiring others to follow.

Her dedication requires hard work, but the reactions of the children she serves make it all worth it. “We went to a foster home with a big truck full of toys, and the kids got to choose something they loved,” she recalls. The joy that filled the room created such a memorable experience for her.

Mila isn’t just helping distribute toys—she’s inspiring others to get involved. She proudly wears her vast collection of Toys for Tots gear to school and promotes events through social media and word-of-mouth. She also enjoys thinking of ways to make it easy for others to get involved: “I love making Amazon wish lists! It’s so surprising coming home to all the boxes and realizing how much people really care,” she said.

Down the road, Mila hopes to remain involved with the Program long after her time as a Youth Ambassador ends—and to watch its reach expand around the world. “Toys for Tots has given me valuable, once-in-a-lifetime experiences,” she says. “It’s shaped who I am today. You’ll make great friends, grow as a person, and make a difference in someone’s life. That’s something you can’t get anywhere else.”