[South Florida DX Association] ARLX006 Holiday Toy Drive trucks hit the highway

[Bill Marx]

 SB SPCL ARL ARLX006
> ARLX006 Holiday Toy Drive trucks hit the highway
> 
> A convoy carrying contributions to the ARRL/Salvation Army Holiday
> Toy Drive set off December 15 from the Memphis warehouse where the
> toys have been collecting for several weeks. On hand to see them off
> were representatives of the ARRL, The Salvation Army, country music
> singer Patty Loveless, KD4WUJ, Amateur Radio volunteers, the news
> media, dignitaries and, of course, Santa Claus. Loveless, who served
> as national chairperson for the campaign, expressed her thanks to
> Amateur Radio clubs and individual hams who gave to the drive.
> 
> "I think it's just amazing. For those who couldn't be here, I'm sure
> they're here in spirit and giving from their hearts, and I just want
> to thank them--from all around--for collecting," Loveless told ARRL.
> "Love is a word that truly everybody knows."
> 
> It took three trucks to contain the 4500 toys bound for youngsters
> along the US Gulf Coast displaced or left homeless as a result of
> this year's devastating hurricanes.
> 
> ARRL Delta Division Vice Director Henry Leggette, WD4Q, ARRL Media
> and Public Relations Manager Allen Pitts, W1AGP, The Salvation
> Army's Bill Feist, WB8BZH, and Loveless headlined a send-off
> ceremony as ham radio volunteers wearing Santa hats, coordinated by
> Joe Lowenthal, WA4OVO, packed up the trucks for the late-afternoon
> departure. Lowenthal says the Holiday Toy Drive received donations
> from upward of three dozen states plus the US Virgin Islands.
> 
> At the warehouse, Delta Amateur Radio Club members began a W1AW/4
> special event operation December 15. A W1AW mobile station also is
> on the air from a vehicle shadowing the truck convoy.
> 
> The ARRL partnered with The Salvation Army for this year's campaign.
> Feist, The Salvation Army's disaster services director for the
> Alabama-Louisiana-Mississippi division, said it was an exciting
> occasion and he was glad to see ham radio get some positive
> publicity too. "We are certainly very appreciative of what all the
> Amateur Radio operators around the country and the ARRL have done
> for the people of Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi," Feist said.
> 
> League members gave more than $4000 in cash donations to purchase
> even more toys--especially for older youngsters--and transport them
> to the Gulf Coast.
> 
> The ARRL thanks everyone who contributed to--and who volunteered to
> assist--in making the 2005 Holiday Toy Drive a success.
> NNNN
> /EX
> 
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