Toys for Tots changes mind, accepts Jesus dolls

Program initially declined offer of 4,000 foot-tall Bible-quoting toys

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The Marine Reserves initially turned down the button-activated Jesus dolls that recite Scripture, saying they didn't want to risk offending Jewish or Muslim families.

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updated 4:13 p.m. ET Nov. 16, 2006

LOS ANGELES - The Marine Reserves’ Toys for Tots program has decided to accept a donation of Bible-quoting Jesus dolls, reversing course after saying earlier this week that it couldn’t take them.

“The talking Jesus doll issue has been resolved,” the organization announced on its Web site Wednesday. “Toys for Tots has found appropriate places for these items. We have notified the donor of our willingness to handle this transaction.”

The short note on the Web site did not explain what it would do with the dolls.

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Earlier this week, the program declined a suburban Los Angeles company’s offer to donate 4,000 of the foot-tall talking dolls. The battery-powered Jesus is one of several Bible-based dolls manufactured by one2believe, a division of the Valencia-based Beverly Hills Teddy Bear Co.

In explaining the initial decision, Bill Grein, vice president of Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, in Quantico, Va., had said the program didn’t want to take the risk of offending a Jewish or Muslim family if they received a Jesus doll.

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Toys for Tots distributed 18 million stuffed animals, games, toy trucks and other gifts to children based on financial need in 2005.