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John Hollenhorst reportingA tiny town in Northern Utah rallied to an unusual cause today. Residents contributed hundreds of stuffed animals that will be dropped from the sky in Iraq.
When the folks in Portage heard about the friendly toy-bombing of Iraq, they came bearing gifts.
They hope candy, stuffed animals and other toys will send a message to the people of Iraq.
Daniel Hutchinson: "Well, teach them that not everybody's bad, that there are some friendly people, good people in the world still."
It started with a Blackhawk helicopter pilot from nearby Tremonton. Jared Kimber started carrying candy and toys on his medical missions in Iraq.
Lolly Wadman: "Then they make a drop to the kids as they fly over an area. And they will be 50 to 100 feet up."
Lolly Wadman spoke with Jared's mother and is organizing a support campaign.
Lolly Wadman : "I can tell you she was almost in tears. She could not believe that people would care. And I'm like, young lady, your son is over there risking his life for us."
Soft unbreakable objects are preferred since they will presumably fall into eager hands.
Linda Simmons: "You know, I think all kids should have toys. And them too. They need them more than we do. Our kids get too much and they don't get any, so why not give them ours?"
They plan to distribute folders at businesses all over northern Utah with some suggestions of things to drop from the sky. Nerf balls, tennis balls, coloring books, jump ropes and candy and gum, just like the old days of the Berlin airlift.
Back then Utah flyer Gail Halovorsen became famous as the Candy Bomber, dropping sweet stuff for German children. The start of a Utah tradition?
Lolly Wadman: "Children are the ones that we love the most, we care about the most, and are hurt the most when things like this happen."
Building good will in Iraq, from the ground up.
We were unable to track down Jared Kimber's relatives on this Memorial Day holiday.
If you want to contribute, find the info in the link in the box above.
