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For more information
Allen G. Pitts, W1AGP
Media and Public Relations Manager
ARRL
Newington, CT 06111
(860) 594-0328
apitts@arrl.org
Newington, Conn., October 25, 2005 - The American Radio Relay League, the national association for Amateur Radio, is coming to the aid of children in the coastal areas of Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana this season by conducting a nation-wide toy drive. With over 150,000 ARRL members and 670,000 hams in the country overall, it could make quite a difference. Toys are already arriving at the Memphis, TN collection center.
Over the past weeks, we have all heard of the devastation left by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Many ham radio operators actually heard it first hand through volunteer service or on their radios. Thousands of families are without a place to live and will be homeless over the coming Holiday Season. For a child living out of a tent, or car, FEMA trailer or someone else's home, the 2005 holiday season will be anything but jolly. But hams from all across the country are coming to their rescue again through the American Radio Relay League's program.
Between now and December 10, ham radio operators throughout the United States are collecting new toys for children and sending them with a card showing their radio callsign to:
ARRL Toy
Drive / Salvation Army
1775 Moriah Woods Blvd - Suite 12
Memphis, TN 38117-7125
-more-
ARRL Toy Drive -2-
"As The Salvation Army continues to provide assistance to the victims of the largest natural disaster in modern US history, we are excited to partner with the ARRL in providing toys for children affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita this holiday season," said Mark Jones, Salvation Army PR Director. The Salvation Army will be handling the distribution end of the program.
The Jackson, MS Salvation Army facility will be coordinating distribution throughout the Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana coastal areas because it still has the facilities to manage a large toy drive. The toys will be collected at the ARRL warehouse in Memphis, TN and brought to the Salvation Army for distribution to the coastal locations whose own facilities are no longer capable of managing such a project.
"Last year, hams from all over the country brought smiles to children during the holidays. We made a lot of friends, and we did a lot of good. No one expected that we would need to do it again, but Katrina's destruction has changed the plans of a lot of people. I hope you will help in this effort to bring a smile to children hurt by this disaster." --ARRL Pres. Jim Haynie.
Unwrapped toys for boys and girls of ages 1 to 14 are being gathered and shipped by amateur radio operators to the Memphis, TN facility between now and early December for distribution over the holidays. Non-hams are also encouraged to join in this effort to provide for the thousands of children suddenly homeless due to the series of hurricanes. Those members wishing to donate money instead of toys can send a check to:
ARRL
-Toy Drive
225 Main Street
Newington, CT 06111
The ARRL is asking all hams to make the coming Holiday Season a little bit brighter for a child by participating in this toy drive. Purchase a new toy and ship it to the ARRL Toy Drive/Salvation Army address. Maybe it's not a new home to live in, but knowing that someone "out there" remembers you is a start for these children.
More information can be found at www.arrl.org/pio
