EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - This is the time of year for giving. During this season of holiday cheer, good will extends all the way to families in Puerto Rico.



Hurricane Maria’s aftermath is still felt on the island. Many Red Empire families were directly affected by the hurricane’s aftermath.



Why it was done



Families in Puerto Rico are struggling to cope with the financial implications of Maria’s impact. Donations provided will remove a significant burden on a family’s ability to provide gifts to their children during the holiday season.



Several Soldiers presented the idea to Group leadership to donate toys to Puerto Rico. Leadership and the unit ministry team took on the task for further coordination.



“Puerto Rico needs all the help they can get. Anytime you can make kids happy it is a good thing,” said David Meyer, Chaplain for 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne).



How it was done



Every year 7th Group raises toy donations through a culmination of charitable activities, to include, fundraisers and toy (airborne) jumps.



This year there were three days of scheduled toy jumps coined, “Operation Toy Drop.” This year the jumps included five partner nations, to include, Chile, Mexico and Brazil, yielding over 300 toys.



The toy jumps had two positive effects: celebrate the Group's enduring partnerships throughout the Western Hemisphere while increasing the capacity of Puerto Rican charities with donations.



Another fundraiser consisted of the 4th Battalion Red Empire softball team participating in a softball tournament in Niceville, Fla. There were a total of 18 teams representing all branches of the military. When it was all said and done 4th Battalion raised a total of 273 toys.



To make the toy movement to Puerto Rico possible the Group Support Battalion brought in their air mobility officer, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jean Vega.



“When I was approached with this mission, I took it very seriously. We are helping people who still don’t have the basics,” said Vega.



Who will benefit



The combined toy donation yielded two pallets of toys valued at over $5,000. The pallets traveled on a C-130 Hercules aircraft to Puerto Rico, and arrived on Dec. 22 in time for Christmas.



Upon arrival, the toys were equally divided between deserving non-profit organizations, to include, the local Children’s Hospital, United in Prayers (Unidos en Oracion) and the “Nuestro Santa Puertorriqueño” (Our Puerto Rican Santa).



The 4th Battalion Commander, Christopher W. O'Gwin, summed up the good will gesture by saying, “Having an opportunity to give back, if only a little, helps show that we care. It is really our appreciation of our Puerto Rican partners why we do things like this.”

NEWS INFO Date Taken: 12.22.2017 Date Posted: 12.22.2017 15:20 Story ID: 260107 Location: EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, FL, US Web Views: 655 Downloads: 0 Podcast Hits: 0 PUBLIC DOMAIN This work, 7th Group extends holiday cheer to Puerto Rico this season, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.