Just a little reminder - Don't forget to give to Toys for Tots.
Toys for Tots is a Marine Corps Reserve community service project. You will see Marines in their dress blues at malls, shops and local businesses soliciting donations. If you see one of their barrels please make sure you drop something in. On the Toys for Tots official websiteyou can find a drop location, or take your donation to any ToysRus. Toys for Tots is very special to many families in our great country. The toys 
collected will be given to families in need in many areas.
My husband who is in the Navy was stationed with a Marine Corps unit in Anchorage, Alaska during the years of 2006-2009 and would gear up every year to go out "on remote delivery" for Toys for Tots. The Alaska Marines do this every year prior to Christmas. In 2008 there were two teams. Team #1 flew into Galena and delivered via snowmobile toys to the school in Ruby. Usually they travel to Koyukuk and Nulato too, but due to the warm weather up in Alaska and the late icing the toys for Koyukuk and Nulato would have to be flown in. The native guide they use told them it was too dangerous to ride the snowmobiles over the water. There were toys delivered to about 550 children and teens in the remote city/villages of Ruby, Koyukuk and Nulato. Team #2 flew into McGrath and delivered to Nikolai. There is a high school there that offers a trade school so they delivered to those teens. It is nice to know an organization that realizes older children are just as important.
For some of these kids this was the only gifts they received. For some these are the only toys they receive for a year. Until the next remote delivery arrives.
I know my husband enjoyed this part of his job tremendously - the adventure of the Alaska wilderness on snowmobiles in minus 10, 20 or 30 degree weather and the look on the kids faces when they brought in the toys - and yep one of the Marines dresses up as Santa.
REMOTE DELIVERY 2008
Delta(-)Company Anti-Terrorism Battalion
Anchorage Alaska
This is how Santa loads his sleigh to go remote. (Santa's sleigh is a C130)
Here is the gorgeous view flying over Mt McKinley area!
This is how Santa travels over the vast wilderness of the Alaska Bush -(with native guide Fred)
HO HO HO !! This is the first time some of these children have seen Santa or received a Toy
Fishing with Alaska Native Guide Fred
Just looking at these photos gave me a chill. My husband loved to do this. He learned so much about the Native Alaskan life and made some real fascinating connections. He was so amazed at how people with so little would feed them and give them jams, jellies, jerky and what ever they had to say thanks.
Author:Jo Soss
Jo Soss is the designated Broker and the owner of Homefront Realty in Bremerton Washington. Selling real estate in the greater Puget Sound area since 1994 she has vast knowledge in all aspects of a real estate transaction. Using today's technology with her signature personal service allows her to achieve complete customer satisfaction.
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This is one of my favorite charities!