Aerial Delivery, Field Services Department helps Santa for Blackstone toy delivery

By Keith Desbois, CASCOM Public AffairsDecember 1, 2015

Aerial Delivery, Field Services Department helps Santa for Blackstone toy delivery
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Aerial Delivery, Field Services Department helps Santa for Blackstone toy delivery
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BLACKSTONE, Va. (Nov. 30, 2015) -- Santa Claus relies on his sleigh and eight reindeer for the bulk of his mission to deliver toys to children around the world, but every once in a while he calls in some help when a special delivery is required.

Soldiers and instructors from the Quartermaster School's Aerial Delivery and Field Services Department, or ADFSD, which is responsible for training parachute riggers, airdrop and slingload inspectors and shower, laundry and clothing repair specialists, provided that help, Nov. 20.

More than 12 Soldiers and civilians with the department participated in the slingload transportation of the toys for the Blackstone community. A slingload consists of hooking a pallet to the bottom of a helicopter and delivering it to a remote location.

"We have enough toys here to provide several Families with Christmas presents this year," said Sgt. Maj. Tonika E. Scott-Morris, ADFSD sergeant major.

Scott-Morris was the driving factor behind making the toy delivery possible. After spearheading a Blackstone toy drop in 2011, she thought that a similar event for the community would be a worth-while endeavor. With planning and support, she was able to put the event together for a second time.

"It took about six months of planning to put this together, so the big challenge was collecting the toys," Scott-Morris said. "I talked to the cadre at ADFSD, and they came together to donate all the toys we had."

Once the delivery was safe on the ground, ADFSD personnel surrounded the pallet to unwrap the precious cargo contained inside. The toys were then presented to Joy Hauser-Long, Resident Services Outreach and Shelter Services manager, Southside Center for Violence Prevention, for distribution to Madeline's House residents.

Madeline's House provides services and shelter for those at risk of domestic violence. The toys will allow residents to select a gift for their children this holiday season.

"These toys really help so we can concentrate more on the mothers staying there," Hauser-Long said. "It gives them back control of their lives and provides a sense of normalcy that they will be able to give their children their own gifts on Christmas."

Scott-Morris said she was excited to be able to coordinate this year's event and is enthusiastic that the unit will continue and expand on her idea.

"This mission allows the military and civilian personnel of ADFSD the chance to support the children of the Blackstone community," she said. "This year we were able to touch several families with the donations as our personnel continue to show their unwavering support for our communities."

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