The 205 RCACS in Nanaimo is putting together a Toy Drive effort for the flood-ravaged communities of BC
The 205 holler for help from another e-mail follows to give you insight into a really terrific initiative:
Hi everyone, here is more information on the 205 Toy Drive!
For background information, here are two newspaper articles about the volunteer efforts on the Lower Mainland helping the small communities isolated and cut off by the flooding and road closures in BC’s Interior — communities like Merritt, Boston Bar, and Spences Bridge to name a few.
Tiny volunteer air force working around the clock to feed, supply flood-stricken B.C.
Qualicum Beach-based pilot flies in relief supplies to flood-ravaged B.C. communities
Captain Sigmund Sort is a friend of 205 Squadron, and is normally on strength with the Regional Cadet Air Operations based out of Comox, flying the towplane and gliders, plus being a Flight Safety Officer. Captain Sort is also a commercial pilot and flight instructor with his own Cessna 172 airplane. He has been volunteering his own time and aircraft to assist with the volunteer efforts based out of Langley, BC.
The latest word from the organizer in Langley was that they are planning to deliver up to 20,000 toys to these communities, mostly by air, and hopefully before Christmas. They are calling it Operation Elf. Flights are limited by weather and shorter hours of daylight for VFR flying at this time of year, however some places are accessible again by road, but barely.
Captain Sort has offered — as a civilian pilot — to deliver as many toys as possible to the main distribution centre in Langley when he is able to fly there again from Qualicum Beach. Shaun Bradley Heaps, the organizer has asked us to label any gifts as being from “205 Air Cadet Squadron, Nanaimo”.
How can you help?
All we are looking for is a donation of an unwrapped toy for any age of child or teen to be dropped off this Thursday at Cadets. FSgt Hills will be looking after assigning teams to wrap and label the toys, with a note regarding the gender and age of the child so they can be ready for delivery out of Langley. He will then deliver them to Captain Sort at his hangar in Qualicum Beach.
The pandemic has affected everyone, and we know Christmas can hard on folks at the best of times. The families in these communities have now been hit so hard, this is a chance for BC’s youth to help BC’s youth.
