Despite dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, pilots in North and South Carolina came together Nov. 9, 2024, to donate to the annual Toys for Tots campaign.
The Carolinas Aviators Network (CAN) worked with officials at Woodward Field Airport (KCDN) in Camden, S.C., and the United States Marine Corps to organize the toy drop-off.
While organizers say they have “no idea” how many toys were collected, Bill Repucci reports they were able to fill a fire rescue boat with toys.
“Let’s say we collected a ‘boat load,’” Bill says. “Seriously, they brought out their fire rescue boat and we filled it, including four brand new bicycles from Ed and Jill Davis.”
All the toys were given to the Marines, who will make sure they are delivered to children throughout the area.
Repucci adds that 13 aircraft flew in — a bit down from last year — with more than 30 people donating toys.
He notes there’s a few reasons for the drop in participation, starting with Hurricane Helene, which devastated the area.
“My feeling is people had ‘given out,’ meaning they had donated all their budgets allowed and here we came asking for more,” he said.
On top of that, the weather didn’t cooperate.
“While it was a clear VFR day, it was very windy and some people thought it best to stay on the ground,” he says. “We also conflicted with the Warbirds Over Monroe air show.”
But with all that said, Repucci reports that they also get “a lot of donations of brand-new clothes,” which were turned over to United Carolinas Calvary, a non-profit that provides disaster relief to Carolina communities.
For more information: ToysForTots.org
