MOLOKAI, Hawaii -- Two CH53D's from HMH-363 delivered three loads of donated Christmas toys from the Toys for Tots Program to the Molokai Salvation Army on December 19.
Over 2000 toys were flown to the Molokai Airport and transferred to awaiting vans that will distribute the holiday gifts to over 300 deserving families on the island.
"We really appreciate the donations, and the Marines have been a blessing to us and to our children," said Georgina M. Kuahuia, a Salvation Army representative on Molokai. "Children here on Molokai that are thankful for the blessings that Marines and their families have given."
The Toys 4 Tots program was founded by Maj. Bill Hendricks in Los Angeles in 1947, and is a function of the Marine Corps Reserve.
Over the past 53 years the program has collected more than 240 million toys for children, according to the Toys for Tots website.
The program not only collects toys for children for Oahu, but delivers gifts for deserved children to all the outer islands and the mainland.
Last year's program collected nearly 50,000 toys for the deserved children of the Hawaiian islands, and although this year's numbers have not been tallied yet, the 2000 holiday season looks to be just as generous.
"I think it is obviously an excellent program," said Capt. Eric Shumbora, assistant operations officer for HMH-363. "The Marines, Sailors, civilians and family members did a great job gathering up the toys for the children."
Shumbora was in charge of flying the toys to their destination at the Molokai Airport, and he said he felt like Santa Claus using a big, gray sleigh to deliver holiday cheer to Molokai.
Originally only one CH-53D was going to be used to transport the toys, but when the truck carrying the presents showed up it quickly became apparent that more than one helicopter was needed.
In all, three trips had to be made to deliver the presents that the Toy for Tots program collected from Marines, family members and civilians.
"The volunteers did their part in collecting the toys and packaging them up," said Shumbora. "We see this as our little part in helping them deliver the toys, and getting them over to the kids."
The spirit of giving is alive and well in Hawaii. The Toys for Tots program, the Salvation Army, Marines, and their families, have given the children of Molokai something to smile about on Christmas morning.