Christmas comes early for Baumholder children - Hundreds of youth receive free toys from
Toy Industry Foundation
By Ignacio “Iggy” Rubalcava
U.S. Army Garrison Baumholder Public Affairs Office
Christmas
came exactly two months early this year for hundreds of Baumholder
children when on Oct. 25 the 170th Infantry Brigade Combat
Team and Child, Youth and Schools Services teamed up to hand out free toys to
children.
“The toys were donated by the Toy Industry Foundation and the Boys and Girls Club of America. We have close to 3,000 toys worth almost $34,000. They are all separated in conjunction with CYSS’s help and FMWR and the 170th IBCT. We’re here to bring some smiles to some kid’s faces here on Baumholder,” said Rachel Dooley, 170th Infantry Brigade Combat Team family readiness support assistant.
Hundreds of children passed through the Hall of Champions from 3-8 p.m. to collect their free toy. The toys were separated into six different age groups and parents preregistered their children through their unit. Families had a set time to collect their free toys according to their unit affiliation.
Tonada Allen, a family member from A Company 24th Brigade Support Battalion who has five children, was grateful for the donation from the Toy Industry Foundation. “It’s a blessing actually. We have five kids, my husband and I, and they are excited to be here today. My oldest is 14 and I have another son that’s 11 and then I have another son, he’s four and I have two girls who are seven and eight,” said Allen. “So these toys are a blessing. I appreciate it.”
Dooley explained how Baumholder acquired the more than 3,000 toys.
“The Toy Industry Foundation and the Boys and Girls Club of America were holding an event in Ramstein and Debra Hathaway, with CYSS, was able to procure additional toys for Baumholder and we brought them up here. It was kind of a lucky donation from them,” she said.
Sgt 1st Class Santos Rosado, from 24th Brigade Support Battalion who is currently working in 170th Infantry Brigade Combat Team S3 office said, “It’s pretty good, actually, for the family members. I’ve been here four years and it’s the first time I have seen it in Baumholder. I have seen it done at other posts and it’s actually pretty good for family members who don’t have that that much income. It brings morale for the kids too,”
His daughter Keila who had just collected some playing cards, puzzles and some games was glad that Christmas came early, saying, “I’m happy about that.”
As the first group of children made their way from table to table searching for their free gift, Dooley said, “We’re probably going to give away close to most of them today and whatever we have left over we will use at the tree lighting ceremony for the kids, if we have any left over. That way nobody misses out.”
Jill Collier, a family member from 1st Battalion, 84th Field Artillery and mother of three said, “I think it’s wonderful and it’s really nice that they’re doing this for the kids. This is the first time that they’ve offered anything like this.” Her daughter Chelsey, clearly delighted, stood speechless her side, clutching a box with her new toy in it.