Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1437252
WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM DECEMBER 15-21, 2021 UCW 11 Operation: Toy Drop stacked for family fun by EMILY SUSSMAN EVENTS e United States Veterans Corps (USVC) is "a group of military and first responder veterans performing 'hands on' community service with a mission deployment attitude," according to their website myusvc. com. Toys For Lil Troops Program, a part of USVC, is the Guinness World Record holder for the larg- est number of toys donated in 24 hours. e goal of Toys For Lil Troops is to provide toys to the children of deployed and low-income troops. And USVC, with their Toys for Lil Troops program, plans to bring all their toy power to bear on behalf of Fayetteville area military and first responder affiliated children on Dec. 18. With the support of Sky- fest, a North Carolina community festival that sports all variations of aerial displays, such as parachute demonstrations, flyovers, heli- copter rappelling and memorable performances, Operation: Toy Drop is stacked for family fun success. e event will begin with a flyover by the Bandit Flight Team during the national anthem. Based out of Raleigh, the Bandit Flight Team flies vintage planes and describe themselves as "highly- trained, experienced pilots that combine their love of flying with an appreciation for vintage military aircraft." Next, the All Veterans Group, a group comprised of active military and veteran parachutists, will do a demonstration jump and lay the foundation for the man of the sea- son. Santa will be next to "drop-in," but Santa won't be alone; his elves and the Grinch will be parachuting in, too. Toys wrapped in sacks will be dropped in from a Special Opera- tions helicopter using special 5-foot parachutes sized for the task. e American Bombshells will entertain the crowd during the aeri- al demonstrations and announce giveaway winners frim the main stage. is is Operation: Toy Drop's third year; last year, the event was very different due to COVID-19 re- strictions. Instead of folks walking around, it was a drive-up event. Amelia Smith attended Opera- tion: Toy Drop last year with her nephews and a friend's children. Even having to drive through the event, they had a great time. "It's re- ally an awesome event for anybody to take the kids to," Smith said. Smith explained that the USVC set up an organized and thoughtful event despite being drive through. With limited information from each child, including age, volunteers could choose and distribute appro- priate presents for each child. Smith's group of kids even hopped out of the vehicle after the Grinch parachuted in to grab a few quick pictures with the infamous holiday grump. is year will be much different ; hotdogs, chips and drinks will be available for attendees, and visitors will be able to roam the event and experience all that there is on offer. Founder of the USVC and Toys For Lil Troops, Staff Sgt. Stan Pinkus, will be in attendance with his family. Pinkus, who has faced some health issues, was cleared to jump in with the parachutists for the event. e organization has a spe- cial surprise planned to honor him on his upcoming eightieth birthday. Operation: Toy Drop will be held at Raeford Airport, located at 155 Airport Drive. e event is from 2 to 4 p.m. However, USVC President Andrew Ladner recommends at- tendees be on time. While the organization has secured what Ladner described as an "at least an 18 wheeler" of toys, they do go fast. "Be on time; the toys go fast! So, while the event says 2 p.m to 4 p.m., it starts at 2. My advice is to show up when it says to show up," he said. Holiday fun day for military fami- lies, giving back to local veterans by HANNAH LEE Once a month, military fami- lies can take a break and enjoy a day to themselves at Rick's Place. e Rick Herrema Foun- dation focuses on strengthen- ing relationships and building community for military families through fun, quality activities. ey host events and fun days at Rick's Place, a 50-acre park, to not only offer kids a place to have fun but let military fami- lies know they aren't alone. "Every month, we try to give back to families that give the most," Vicky Jimenez, director of programs at RHF, said. At this special holiday-themed event, not only will hayrides, inflatables and other fun activi- ties be available, there will also be some special winter activi- ties. ere will be hot cocoa and cookies, for decorating, and Santa Claus will be posing for pictures. Local food trucks are sched- uled to be on-site and will offer free lunches to everyone attend- ing the event. Jimenez told Up & Coming Weekly that, on average, 250 families come to their monthly Fun Day events. However, last week she no- ticed that over 500 families have pre-registered. ose numbers are great, especially since each family will also be helping an at-risk com- munity while having fun, she said "It's the season of giving. We made it through another year with all of the ups and downs we've had," Jimenez said. "We wanted to give back." e Rick Herrema Founda- tion is partnering with the Military Luggage Company and the Fayetteville Woodpeckers to help donate 187 backpacks to local at-risk and homeless veterans. ey are asking families at- tending the Holiday Family Fun Day to donate the following needed items to be put into the backpacks: new socks, toiletries, hygiene products, chapstick, warm blankets, winter coats, winter gloves, warm hats, new shoes, warm scarves, over-the- counter cold medicine and handheld first aid kits. True Patriot Inc. Off-Road Outreach will give out the back- packs on Jan. 10 as part of the "Backpacks for Patriots" event at Operation Inasmuch. is RHF event and others require volunteers. ere are many volunteer opportunities, such as helping with significant events such as the Family Fun Day, but there are also hands- on opportunities like carpentry, working with horses and gen- eral labor. To become a volunteer, con- tact the volunteer coordinator at volunteer@rhfnow.org. e family fun day will take place on Dec. 18 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Pre-registration is required to attend and is open only to military families. To register, visit rhfnow.org/ event/ricks-place-holiday-fami- ly-fun-day/. e park is located at 5572 Shenandoah Drive. For more information, visit rhfnow.org/ events or call the Rick's Place team at 910- 444- 1743. Christmas decorations are being hung at Rick's Place ahead of a Dec. 18 Family Fun Day. (Photo courtesy of the Rick Herrema Foundation's Facebook page.) HANNAH LEE, Assistant Editor. COMMENTS? Editor@upandcomin- gweekly.com. 910-484-6200. EMILY SUSSMAN, Editor. COMMENTS? editor@upandcom- ingweekly.com. 910-484-6200.