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Operation Toy Soldier brings smiles to military families, veterans ahead of Christmas

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Published  December 17, 2024 4:06pm EST
What's Right with Tampa Bay
FOX 13 News

How Operation Toy Solider supports military families

FOX 13's Mark Wilson highlights Operation Toy Soldier, which aims to supply holiday gifts to families with members deployed overseas this holiday season.

CLEARWATER, Fla. - Operation Toy Soldiers is bringing smiles and a little extra holiday cheer to military families and veterans ahead of Christmas. It's been the organization's mission for nearly two decades. 

"We have people that show up year after year to help us sort the toys, transport them, or we could never pull this off ourselves," Jim Rudolph, the founder of Operation Toy Soldiers, said.

Rudolph started the organization in 2006 from his funeral home, Veterans Funeral Care, with a simple idea: To ensure no military child wakes up without a gift under the Christmas tree. 

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"We actually have Operation Toy Soldier in over 30 states now, when it started right here, just very humbly to help our local Tampa Bay area veterans," Rudolph said. 

The program has grown tremendously since its early days. Through partnerships with Tampa Bay area businesses and donations from the community, Operation Toy Soldiers has delivered Christmas gifts to thousands of children across the country. 

"The kids are walking out with, you know, stuffed animal, you know, and a bike is just it's just very just fills your heart with gratitude, it really does," Rudolph explained. 

Jennifer Jones, a 20-year Navy veteran is the coordinator for Operation Toy Soldier. 

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"I love the mission of what we do. I love serving our veteran community," said Jones. "As a fellow veteran myself, I feel like know these are my families." 

The initiative also provides gifts for children of active-duty members who may be deployed during the holidays, ensuring the spirit of Christmas reaches them wherever they are. 

"I was touched, moved, surprised. I mean, there's all kinds of adjectives I can use, but I'm just really glad, and I'm very thankful to the families and everybody that pulled together," Jones said. 

With thousands of families helped, Operation Toy Soldier is proof that a little generosity goes a long way.

Any veteran family in need is welcome to come and get free toys. The event is Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Veterans Funeral Care in Clearwater. 

If you would like to support their mission, donations of toys and funds are always welcome. For more information, email Info@FloridaVeterans.org.

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