Just a little reminder - Don't forget to give to Toys for Tots.

 Toys for Tots is a Marine Corps Reserve community service project.  You will see Marines in their dress blues at malls, shops and local businesses soliciting donations. If you see one of their barrels please make sure you drop something in.  On the Toys for Tots official websiteyou can find a drop location, or take your donation to any ToysRus. Toys for Tots is very special to many families in our great country.  The toys collected will be given to families in need in many areas. 

My husband who is in the Navy is stationed with a Marine Corps unit in Anchorage, Alaska is gearing up to go out "on remote delivery" for Toys for Tots. The Alaska Marines do this every year prior to Christmas.  This year there are two teams. Team #1 will fly into Galena  and deliver via snowmobile toys to the school in Ruby.  Usually they travel to Koyukuk and Nulato too, but due to the warm weather up in Alaska and the late icing the toys for Koyukuk and Nulato will have to be flown in.  The native guide they use has told them it is too dangerous to ride the snowmobiles over the water right now.  There will be toys delivered to about 550 children and teens in the remote city/villages of Ruby, Koyukuk and Nulato.  Team #2 will be flying into McGrath and delivering to Nikolai. There is a high school there that offers a trade school so they will be delivering to these teens. It is nice to know an organization that realizes older children are just as important. 

For some of these kids these will be the only gifts they receive. For some these are the only toys they receive for a year. Until the next remote delivery arrives. 

I know my husband enjoys this part of his job tremendously - the adventure of the Alaska wilderness on snowmobiles in minus 10, 20 or 30 degree weather and the look on the kids faces when they bring in the toys - and yep one of the Marines dresses up as Santa.   

REMOTE DELIVERY 2008

Delta(-)Company Anti-Terrorism Battalion

Anchorage Alaska

This is how Santa loads his sleigh to go remote. (Santa's sleigh is a C130)

 Here is the gorgeous view flying over Mt McKinley area!

This is how Santa travels over the vast wilderness of the Alaska Bush -(with native guide Fred)

HO HO HO !! This is the first time some of these children have seen Santa or received a Toy

Fishing with Alaska Native Guide Fred

Just looking at these photos gave me a chill. My husband loves to do this.  He has learned so much about the Native Alaskan life and has made some real fascinating connections.  He was so amazed at how people with so little would feed them and give them jams, jellies, jerky and what ever they had to say thanks.