SEPTEMBER 26, 2012
Operation Homefront launches holiday toy drive, seeks volunteers
SAN ANTONIO – Operation Homefront, the national non-profit organization that provides emergency financial and other assistance to the families of service members and Wounded Warriors, recently announced its annual Holiday Toy Drive to collect gifts for military kids. Operation Homefront volunteers and field offices across the nation will soon begin collecting donated toys, along with monetary donations, to be distributed to the children of service members this holiday season.
Today’s launch marks the sixth annual campaign by Operation Homefront to give the children of military families toys for the holiday. The organization is seeking volunteers from across the nation to help collect the toys from designated drop-off points and assist at distribution parties.
More information about how to volunteer is available online.
Local establishments wishing to join Operation Homefront’s Holiday Toy Drive can register to place a collection box in an office lobby, at a cash register, or other public place of business. Business owners can contact Operation Homefront at 800-722-6098 to learn more about being a designated Operation Homefront Holiday Toy Drive collection spot. Every year, toys are collected at local coffee shops, hair salons, preschools, fire stations, retailers, offices, and more.
“For service members with kids, especially in the lower ranks, Christmas shopping is a major expense that can blow a hole in the family budget,” said Jim Knotts, President & CEO of Operation Homefront. “Helping them make their children feel extra special during this festive time is an important aspect of the assistance we provide to military families. By contributing to Operation Homefront’s Holiday Toy Drive - either with an online monetary donation or by dropping off gifts – you’re helping our men and women in uniform provide for their families in these tough economic times.”
National corporate sponsors for the Holiday Toy Drive include Dollar Tree, Veterans United, and BAE Systems.
In 2011, Operation Homefront’s Holiday Toy Drive collected over 7 million toys nationwide for military kids. Log on to OperationHomefront.net for more details on how to help military families. In the coming weeks, Operation Homefront will announce additional information on how Americans interested in donating holiday toys to military kids can help.
A national nonprofit, Operation Homefront leads more than 4,500 volunteers with nationwide presence, and has met more than 590,000 needs of military families since its inception in 2002. A four-star rated charity by watchdog Charity Navigator, nationally, 94 percent of total revenue donated to Operation Homefront goes directly to assist service members. For more information, go to www.OperationHomefront.net.
