[ARRL-OK] Holiday Toy Drive

[Mark D. Conklin N7XYO]

ARRL Partners with Salvation Army in Holiday Toy Drive
Non members now can freely join in

By Allen G. Pitts, W1AGP

In the wake of the unprecedented devastation by Hurricane Katrina, hams
around the country are being asked, "Can we do it again?"

A year ago hams and other volunteers around the country joined together
for children left homeless by a series of four hurricanes in Florida.
That effort, in late 2004, succeeded better than anyone's wildest
dreams.  No one expected to do it again so soon, but not only can it be
done, it really must be done.  It is simply the right thing to do.

National Toy Drive Chairperson and award winning singer Patty Loveless,
KD4WUJ, has gone the extra step and joined with her family and friends,
including producer Richard Lubash, N1VXW, to make three videos promoting
the drive.  One is a 30 second PSA for TV use and two others are
intended for placement on websites and may even be sent as email
attachments.

According to Patty, "Ham Radio is all about giving and sharing; it's
about caring and helping.  Those things are the major traits of our
tradition.  And we, as amateur radio operators and ARRL members, can
continue the true spirit of that tradition by supporting this wonderful
and much needed effort."

This year the ARRL Toy Drive has partnered with the Salvation Army whose
distribution network throughout the coastal Gulf region is still intact.
By partnering with the Salvation Army in the drive, non-ARRL members can
also join in!  The Salvation Army also has the ability to screen
recipients and assure that the toys are used where they are truly needed
most.

We are asking hams from all over the country to begin gathering new toys
and shipping them to Memphis, Tennessee.  ARRL Vice-Director Henry
Leggette, WD4Q, secured a receiving warehouse and is coordinating
ham-elves volunteering there.  The toys should be sent to

ARRL Toy Drive / Salvation Army
1775 Mariah Woods Blvd - Suite 12
Memphis, TN 38117-7125

where they will be sorted and stocked by volunteers.  Early in December
we will transport the toys to the Salvation Army facilities in hurricane
areas that need help the most at that point in time.  We are making
these arrangements so that we can maximize the areas receiving aid while
still maintaining the unique identity that this is the Amateur Radio
community's response.

Just as we did last year, we are asking the Amateur Radio operators to
please put one of their QSL cards into the box with the toy.

Many local clubs are already gathering toys together.  Please check with
your local club and see if they are planning a mass shipment.  If not,
perhaps you can help organize one for your area.

"Last year, hams from all over the country brought smiles to children
during the holidays.  We made a lot of friends, and we did a lot of
good.  No one expected that we would need to do it again, but Katrina's
destruction has changed the plans of a lot of people.  I hope you will
help in this effort to bring a smile to children hurt by this disaster."
- Pres. Jim Haynie.

Unwrapped new toys for boys and girls of ages 1 to 14 should be gathered
and shipped to the Memphis, TN facility between now and Thanksgiving for
distribution over the holidays. Non-hams are also encouraged to join in
this effort to provide for the thousands of children suddenly homeless
due to Hurricane Katrina.

Monetary donations would also be helpful in covering the expenses of
this operation such as truck rentals and purchasing toys for special age
groups. One particular need that has been noted is bicycles.  ARRL
members wishing to donate money instead of toys can send a check to:
ARRL -Toy Drive
225 Main Street
Newington, CT 06111


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