Charity – Text
Check unknown vocabulary before you read the text:
tot – a small child
to reject – refuse to accept
turn down – refuse or reject
to donate – present as a gift, grant, or contribution
needy – in a condition of need or want; extremely poor
to quote – repeat the exact words of a person as they were said or written
to balk – refuse to proceed or to do something specified
background – one's origin, education, experience, etc., in relation to one's present character, status, etc
affiliation – state of being associated
to profess – state or declare openly
disappointed – depressed; discouraged; unhappy
to benefit – do good to; profit from
to question – make a question of; doubt
Toys for Tots rejects talking Jesus dolls
A talking Jesus doll has been turned down by the 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 anddisappointed."
"The idea was for them to be three-dimensional teaching tools for kids," La Roe said. "I believe as a churchgoing person, anyone canbenefit from hearing the words of the Bible."
According to the company's Web site, the button-activated Jesus recites the Bible 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.