FORT WORTH, Texas — The holiday spirit was on display at Meacham International Airport (KFTW) in the weeks leading up to Christmas 2021, as American Aero FTW hosted a drive-through toy drive to benefit the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program.
FBO officials report that clients, airport tenants, airport visitors, and personnel dropped off hundreds of new, unwrapped children’s gifts to make the holiday a little brighter for local families.
Because of COVID, in lieu of its traditional Toys for Tots luncheon, American Aero kicked off the campaign by presenting a check for $10,000 to the Tarrant Area Food Bank. The FBO has been hosting the annual charitable event since 2014, transitioning from a luncheon to a drive-through format last year as a safety precaution during the pandemic.
“We know we will be putting smiles on the faces of a lot of children this holiday season,” said Angela Thurmond, general manager of American Aero. “This toy drive is one of our favorite events because it allows all of us to give back to the North Texas community that we serve.”
Over the years, the American Aero Toys for Tots campaign, through the generosity of its patrons, has donated nearly 900 bicycles and helped contribute more than 1,700 gifts to the Marine Corps toy drive. The program benefits about 150,000 children throughout Tarrant County and surrounding North Texas counties by delivering new, unwrapped toys each Christmas.