“Operation Toy Soldier,” a local non-profit, is kicking off its big holiday campaign and needs the community’s help in collection Christmas gifts for families of our service members.
- 'Operation Toy Soldier' collecting Christmas gifts for military families
- Organization helps families during the holidays
- For more information, click here
Jim Rudolph, owner of Veterans Funeral Care in Pinellas County, helped start the organization a few years ago as a way to give back to our service members who have sacrificed so much.
"It is a big deal and they do have kids and these kids are tired of having moms and dads that are not home for the holidays," Rudolph said.
Army Staff Sergeant Danny Billek is just one of countless veterans who will benefit from Operation Toy Soldier. He served for nearly fifteen years and spent a total of 56 months in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Staff Sergeant Billek’s trips home were few and far between and spent countless holidays without his wife and four children.
"It was really hard, I know my kids wanted me there, my wife wanted me there, and not being able to be there makes it really tough seeing things through skype or Facebook," Billek said.
Staff Sergeant Billek was medically discharged in 2016. He’s now a fourth grade teacher and said adjusting to civilian life has been anything but easy because resources are limited and expenses add up.
"My ten year old son gets sick a lot and we go to the emergency room, and it is money out of our pocket. Of course money out of our pocket means you can't do as much for the holidays," Billek said.
Staff Sergeant Billek said he’s grateful for community support and for organizations like Operation Toy Soldier.
"Their compassion and giving nature is just paramount in a country that's just so divided right now, and it's amazing that there are people that can reach out to other people and know what patriotism is and what brotherhood is and what love really is," Billek said.
Operation Toy Soldier is currently collecting donations. For more information: http://operationtoysoldier.com/