MacDill first location for free toy giveaway program

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  • By to the Thunderbolt
MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Representatives from the Toy Industry Foundation and Boys & Girls Clubs of America will distribute toys to children of military families stationed at MacDill Air Force Base on Nov. 17 from 2 to 6 p.m. in Hangar 3. MacDill AFB was chosen as the first Air Force installation by the Toy Industry Foundation to participate in their Play Comforts Program. "MacDill is very proud to represent the Air Force and to have been the first Air Force base selected to receive this gracious gift to the benefit of all branches of our military families during these difficult times of high operations tempo and deployments," said Lisa LaConte, 6th Force Support Squadron, Caring For People coordinator. The toys were donated to The Toy Bank, the foundation's signature program, by generous toy manufacturers, retailers and distributors both local and nation-wide. Through the Play Comforts partnership, TIF provides Toy Bank toys to members of Boys & Girls Clubs located on military bases across the country with high deployment rates. The initiative includes grant funding from the foundation and is its first-ever national toy distribution program to canvas every branch of the military. TIF and BCGA are honored to have senior MacDill Air Force officials on hand to accept the toys on behalf of the Air Force community. Volunteers and staff members will then distribute free toys and refreshments to the children and their parents. "The toy industry and it's foundation are deeply committed to giving back to our military families who have made great sacrifices for our country," said Jean Butler, the foundation's executive director. "We work to share the joy of play with as many children as we can and this opportunity to say thank you to so many deserving young heroes is truly special." "We are astonished and grateful for the Toy Industry Foundation's continuous generosity," said Terrill D. Wicks, BGCA's vice president of Military Services and International Projects. "Their unwavering support for our military youth is greatly appreciated and we thank them for making these toys available to children at MacDill Air Force Base."