Military families bringing their children to the tables to select toys. Photos by Terrance Moran/The Connection
Operation Homefront, in partnership with Northrop Grumman, held a Holiday Toy Party for children of enlisted soldiers in Lorton. Five hundred families registered online to be part of the festivities on Sunday, Dec. 14.
Each child was given a set of tickets that could be used to purchase holiday toys of their choosing. With a donation of $25,000 from Northrop Grumman, over 610 toys donated by Northrop Grumman employees, a wide selection of toys for boys and girls were available.
Operation Homefront is a nonprofit organization with 17 field offices serving 45 states in the U.S. Their mission is to provide emergency financial aid and assistance to the families of our nation’s enlisted service members and wounded warriors. With the financial help of major corporations like Wal-Mart, Wells Fargo, Bank of America and Northrop Grumman, Operation Homefront is able to assist families with a wide-assortment of financial needs. From food, mortgage assistance, utility payment and school supplies Operation Homefront brings aid to the families of enlisted men and women.
The Lorton Holiday Toy Party was one of three events held in the mid-Atlantic region. Over 190 Northrop Grumman employees who helped wrap presents and staff the various gift tables staffed the Lorton Holiday Toy Party. During the event a woman who had registered for the event called to say she had given birth the day before and asked if her husband could attend. A Northrop Grumman volunteer said he would bring the presents to her and with the help of others picked out presents and left for the hospital.
When Santa showed up to visit the children quickly lined up to take their turn with Santa.
--Terrance Moran