Delawareans’ musical talent helps promote Toys for Tots

Delaware musician Sgt. Bell the Rapper, aka Lafayette Bell, was a sergeant in the Marine Corps Reserve and proudly supports its Toys for Tots Foundation. 

He is no longer in the reserves, but retained the title Sgt. Bell for his recording career. Bell continues to volunteer for the toys program each year from October through December, as he has for more than 20 years.

In 1997, he wrote a 29.5-second Toys for Tots Foundation jingle as a rap. The foundation published it nationally on cassettes and CDs from 1998 to 2007.

In 2012, he wrote and recorded a three-minute song, which the foundation put to use and published on its digital media site in 2019.

Singer Sara Brand of Felton recorded the Toys for Tots song and jingle as well, and her cover of the jingle was added to the Toys for Tots promotional playlist this year. 

Bell said the jingle and his other hip-hop projects are meant to let youth and the African American community know how they can help others through Toys for Tots.