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.