Toy drive gives boost to junior enlisted

  • Published
  • By Jim Spellman
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  The annex of the First Street Chapel was turned into a miniature Toyland as the Christmas spirit arrived a little early for Travis children this week. Operation Homefront, a national non-profit organization brought their 2013 Holiday Toy Drive program to Travis Tuesday afternoon, distributing toys and gift cards to junior enlisted military families.

Thanks in large measure to the tremendous support of its patrons, more than nine million toys were donated. These items and other holiday gifts are being distributed to the most junior service members nationwide in a show of the Nation's appreciation and to help supplement the family holiday.

This year marks the seventh annual joint campaign by Operation Homefront to support military families during the holiday season.

"For service members with kids, especially in the lower- and mid-grade ranks, holiday shopping is a major expense that can have a big impact on the family budget," said Jim Knotts, Operation Homefront president and CEO. A former Air Force public affairs officer and veteran of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Knotts served for two years on Operation Homefront's national board of directors, chairing the fundraising committee which raised more than $30 million in support of the organization's efforts on behalf of military families.

"Helping make service member's children feel extra special during this festive time is an important aspect of the assistance we provide to military families," said Jack Chirrick,

Operation Homefront-California executive director and retired U.S. Navy senior chief petty officer. "By contributing to Operation Homefront's Holiday Toy Drive - either with an online monetary donation or by dropping off gifts - we're helping our men and women in uniform provide for their families during these tough economic times."
Operation Homefront leads more than 4,500 volunteers with a nationwide presence to provide emergency and other financial assistance to the families of service members and wounded warriors. Operation Homefront has met more than 750,000 needs of military families since its inception in 2002. Nationally, 95 percent of total donations to Operation Homefront go directly to programs that provide support to our military families.

Anyone wishing to make next year's holidays brighter for military families can purchase toys to be distributed to the children of our service members. More information on the annual Holiday Toy Drive is available at www.OperationHomefront.net/HolidayToys. Operation Homefront also accepts online contributions for all of Operation Homefront's programs to assist military families. Log on to OperationHomefront.net for more details.