CityView Magazine

event. For Operation Toy Drop in 2011, 11 al- lied countries sent jumpmasters to participate in the operation: Cambodia, Canada, Chile, Esto- nia, Germany, Latvia, the Netherlands, Poland, Thailand, Ukraine and Uruguay. By donating a toy, paratroopers receive a lottery number that offers them the chance to earn foreign jump wings from an allied country. Last year, airborne units on Fort Bragg received 4,000 spaces on the aircraſt for the parachute jump. Although only 300 of the seats on the aircraſt were for lottery winners, over 3,000 soldiers showed up with toys hoping to win a lottery spot for one of the seats. In the five years Oler organized Operation Toy Drop, he ensured that toys were not only given to military families in need on Fort Bragg, but also to those in need outside of Fort Bragg's gates. Since the operation's commencement, soldiers have collected and distributed toys to thousands of children in local children's homes, social service agencies and to every child who lost a parent in the tragic attacks on September 11, 2001. Last year Operation Toy Drop reached beyond North Carolina and distributed toys to children's homes and social service agencies in Texas, California, Washington, Missouri and New York. As the toys travel beyond Fort Bragg and North Carolina, so does support for Opera- tion Toy Drop. Many businesses in Fayetteville, Spring Lake and Lumberton place toy collection boxes in their stores to garner support from members of their community. In 2011, the Fayetteville Fire- Antz also sought support by dedicating one of their ice hockey games at the Crown Coliseum to the Toy Drop. One of the biggest contributors of Operation Toy Drop is the Kids Wish Network. Earlier this year, Kids Wish Network committed to support the operation for the third year by do- nating thousands of brand new toys for families and children in need. Jumping Joes Zone on Fort Bragg at 9 a.m. The public is invited to attend the main airborne operation on Saturday. O 38 | November/December • 2012 peration Toy Drop's Lottery will take place at Green Ramp on Pope Field Friday, Dec. 7 and the main jump will occur Saturday, Dec. 8 at the Sicily Drop This year, Operation Toy Drop will also receive support from other Army units across the United States. Army Reserve units in Austin, Dallas, San Antonio, Baton Rouge, Los Angeles, Seattle, St. Louis, and New York City are participating in Toy Drop events in their areas. These units will collect toys and distribute them to local social services agencies, children's homes and hospitals. With the support of Kids Wish Network, sol- diers and local businesses, the toy collection and distribution in 2011 doubled the total for 2010, with over 20,000 toys given to needy kids. This year, organizers expect to collect and distribute 25,000 toys. CV

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