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The Candy Bomber continues to make kids happy over 60 years after the initial event in Berlin, particularly in his hometown.
Teaming up with the Candy Bomber, Col. Gail S. Halvorsen and Ragpicker.org, the Bank of American Fork is collecting donations of clothing, school supplies, toys and bedding for children at the Christmas Box House.
Donations will also be accepted at the Ogden Amphitheater Wednesday, June 15, where Halvorsen will give a presentation "Service before self," free of cost.
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If you would like to make a monetary donation to the Christmas Box House through Ragpicker.com, or find out more, click link above.To begin the collection, the Bank of American Fork sent Halvorsen up in a hot air balloon Wednesday, where he threw candy parachutes down to children at a school.
"It's so cool," Kayden Barlow, an 11-year-old in attendance and child of Daniel Barlow, Ragpicker.org creator said. "I mean, I can see how the kids felt when the Candy Bomber dropped candy down to [them]."
True to his style, when the collection is over Halvorsen will drop the donations attached to parachutes, from the balloon to the Christmas Box House.
"I think this is extremely important for the community because these children have been traumatized," Bryan Grant Kay, licensed clinical social worker said. "The Christmas Box House provides a service that is unique to children who have troubles, have difficulties. They need love, they need to be understood and cared for, and this event is going to help provide that in a way for the community to step up and provide service to these children."
The Christmas Box House is a nonprofit emergency shelter in Salt Lake for children in state custody. A temporary step between neglect or abuse and a safe, permanent home, children who stay there receive health, medical and dental screening and participate in recreational activities.
