FRCE Team Spreads Holiday Joy with Toys for Tots Initiative

Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE) personnel have made a significant impact this holiday season by supporting the Toys for Tots initiative. This effort unites civilian, military, and contractor staff to provide much-needed donations to children in need.

This year, FRCE has managed to gather over 500 toys and 88 bicycles, along with $500 in monetary donations. These contributions aim to brighten the lives of children across Eastern North Carolina, ensuring they have presents to unwrap.

At FRCE, supporting Toys for Tots goes beyond a mere charitable action; it’s a tradition embraced by many staff members. Staff Sgt. Matthew Jensen highlighted the personal satisfaction he felt coordinating this year’s collection, marking it as his first active role in organizing the program.

“Being involved in Toys for Tots elevates my pride in being a Marine,” said Jensen. He noted the joy in contributing to enhancing someone’s Christmas and expressed gratitude for participating in such a meaningful initiative.

Established in 1947, the Toys for Tots Program has distributed 677 million toys to over 301 million children. Its mission is to ensure all children experience the joy of receiving gifts during the festive season.

FRCE teams have taken additional steps to enhance the collection process. The F-35 aircraft line, for instance, channels monetary donations into purchasing bicycles. F-35 Branch Head Ike Rettenmair shared that this tradition began five years ago to motivate his team towards greater support.

Rettenmair explained, “I enjoy giving during this season and wish to help kids in need, which sometimes we overlook.” This year, his team donated 63 bicycles, exceeding last year’s contribution of 40.

Other FRCE divisions, like the Engines, Lift Fan, and Dynamic Components Division, also joined the effort. Production Controllers Lauren Day and Courtney Skinner spearheaded their team’s donations, developing a strategy to maximize toy purchases with pooled monetary contributions.

Day’s team engaged with around 500 colleagues, focusing on collecting funds and toys to maximize their impact. Skinner emphasized that their aim was to create memorable holiday experiences for families, thoughtfully selecting gifts to ensure they resonated with recipients.

This dedication resulted in raising $2,309, enabling the purchase of 184 toys. Skinner found the experience inspiring, particularly witnessing the generosity of the FRCE community.

“This was my first year involved, and seeing colleagues contribute to such an important cause was heartwarming,” Skinner observed. Both she and Day extend gratitude to all involved in this collective effort.

Whether through individual or group efforts, the contributions from FRCE personnel provide significant satisfaction, according to Jensen. Reflecting on his own childhood experience with Toys for Tots, he now passes on the tradition to his son.

FRCE, North Carolina’s largest maintenance and technical service provider, emphasizes its commitment to the community. With more than 4,000 employees, FRCE continues to deliver substantial support within its workforce and beyond.