[W2CRA] ARRL Toy Drive

[Walter O'Brien, W2WJO]

With no meetings coming up until the Christmas dinner it's too late to
organize a club effort for the ARRL Toy Drive, but here are excerpts from
the ARRL Letter explaining what individual hams might do to help these kids
have a happier holiday season!

73, Walter W2WJO

HAMS FROM ALL OVER RESPONDING TO ARRL TOY DRIVE

Generous radio amateurs have been answering the ARRL's call to help
Florida youngsters displaced by the hurricanes earlier this year.
Shipments of toys from more than 100 clubs, groups or individuals already
have arrived at the Martin County United Way collection site in Stuart,
Florida, and more are showing up every day. The ARRL initiated the toy
drive to brighten the holidays for youngsters left homeless or displaced
as a result of several hurricanes that struck Florida earlier this year.
The League's campaign will fold into the United Way's White Doves Holiday
Project <http://www.martinvolunteers.org/whitedoves/>...

...The United Way staff in Florida has been posting QSL cards accompanying
the toys and monetary donations. Carol Hodnett, director of the Volunteer
& Community Resource Center, says the toy drive is going very well. "I
just got off the phone with a ham operator from Atlanta who is doing a
drive for us there," she noted. "Everyone has been so nice!"

Associate Director Diane Tomasik said the toy drive also received help
from hams in Clearwater, Florida, and from Motor City Radio Club in
Michigan.

"The staff really felt a heart tug when we opened a box of teddy bears
from Martin King, N3FHD, of Plainville, Georgia," she said. "They were
handcrafted by his late wife, Beverly R. Bauer, KD4NHP, with a lot of love
put in."

Tomasik said the United Way staff enjoys reading the notes hams have
written on their QSL cards or included with their checks. "It is so
heartening to know that so many kind and generous people are reaching out
to the children of our area to ensure that they have a happy holiday," she
said.

Hams across the country are encouraged to purchase an unwrapped toy for a
boy or girl aged 1 to 14 and send it with a QSL card or 3x5 card
displaying their call sign to: Ham Radio, The United Way White Doves
Project, 50 Kindred St--Suite 207, Stuart, FL 34994.

Monetary donations also are welcome. Send gifts and donations prior to
Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 25. Martin County United Way has agreed
to serve as the collection point for donations and will coordinate
distribution to youngsters in surrounding counties.