(From Bobbi Lasher, Toys For Tots, Chairman, 12/11/04)

ROUSING SUCCESS!!!!!!

We outdid ourselves! We served 225 breakfasts and collected 543 toys!
That's about 200 more than last year.

Thank you to all the workers, especially the cooks, Greg Popp, Irv Bubeck
and John Lanahan; and to Yohn Gray, who spent the morning in the kitchen,
mixing batter, making coffee and then cleaning up! A day like today does
not happen without the help of lots of people who pitch in where needed.

My Santa hat is off to all of you who came out, brought a toy, worked and
ate. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Bobbi

PS If you could not attend this morning, you can still donate a toy to Toys
for Tots - most stores have a bin where you can leave your purchase. The
need is greater this year than ever, because the hurricanes took toys along
with homes.

And a big thank you, to Island Aviation for their generous contribution to Toys For Tots and the use of the FBO.

Here's a message I got from Jay, one of the Marines who attended on
Saturday.

Bobbi & Ric:

Thanks so much for the photos! They are great! Congratulations on what I
think is one of the greatest Toys for Tots events I've personally attended
since 1985. 543 toys and over $200 collected is a milestone for every
group to try and achieve!!!

I also enjoyed your updated web site!

Please stay in touch!

Jay Pruden

Sarah Tucker and Tony Yacono have a cockpit full of toys for the US Marines'
Toys for Tots program. The Brevard Aviation Association collected 233 toys
at their annual pancake Breakfast at Island Aviation on Merritt Island.
Tony Yacono's aircraft 'Ms Mooney was filled, covered and surrounded by donated toys.
(Photo Credit WWW.TVPHOTOG.COM or Roger Scruggs Films)

The Merritt Island Pilots have come together again this year to bring a Happy Christmas to needy children of Brevard County. The Pilots and Friends of the Brevard Aviation Association, Experimental Aircraft Chapter 724 and Merritt Island Air Service will again sponsor a Pancake Breakfast with coffee, Orange juice, sausage and pancakes. At 10 AM two Bell Choirs from the Gloria Dei Episcopal Church, the Celebration Ringers and the Praise Ringers, will set the holiday mood with Christmas Carols.
You can walk, drive, or fly to Merritt Island Airport on Merritt Island, Florida. The Airport is located about 2 miles south of the 520 on South Courtney Parkway.
Breakfast will be served from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM. The price of this complete meal is a "NEW TOY" for kids. In past years the pilots have collected in excess of 310 toys, such as Games, Dolls, Toys, Scooters, Bikes.
TOYS FOR TOTS is a Marine Corps Reserve premier community action program and one of the Nations Flagship Christmas Charitable causes. The U.S. MARINE CORPS RESERVES since 1947 have distributed over 300 million toys to needy children. Their Goal is to motivate economically disadvantaged children to grow into responsible productive and patriotic citizens. All toys collected will remain in our county.

The Aviation Groups use a Mooney Aircraft, belonging to one of their members, to display the toys. As toys are collected, they are put on Ms Mooney's wings, tail section, cockpit, cowling, everywhere. The goal is to completely cover the airplane with toys so that the airplane cannot be seen. You can help do this and also make some youngster very happy at Christmas time, and have a delicious breakfast too.

For More information Call,

Bobbi Lasher 321 636 5346
Tony Yacono 321 453 5388
Catherine Hall 321 637 3316

 

If for some reason you can not take part in this Pancake Breakfast but, would like to donate a toy to 'TOYS FOR TOTS ' You may drop it off at SUTHERLIN OLDS CADILLAC NISSAN ISUZU on Merritt Island. Please mark the toy (s) TOYS FOR TOTS. Tony will take them to the Airport for you.