A display of donated toys sits beside a military trainer aircraft as volunteers work across the tarmac at Redlands Municipal Airport on Dec. 6, 2024. Nearly 1,000 toys were donated for the Salvation Army’s Dec. 19 holiday giveaway. (Photo by Stephanie Hastings-Miranda, CFR)
REDLANDS, Calif. — Hundreds of toys were sorted, displayed and loaded for distribution Saturday at the Redlands Municipal Airport, where the Redlands Airport Association and Civil Air Patrol’s Redlands Cadet Squadron 411 joined volunteers for the annual holiday toy drive benefiting local families.
The Salvation Army will distribute the toys and holiday food boxes on Dec. 19. About 400 families have signed up to receive assistance this year, according to Ted Gablin, president of the Redlands Airport Association. Gablin and his wife, Cindy, coordinate the toy drive each year, working with businesses across the city to collect donated gifts throughout November and December.
Gablin said this year’s drive was the airport’s most successful yet, with an estimated 1,700 toys collected from donation sites around town and a large donation from Best Choice Products. Close to $2,000 has been raised to support the drive, including at $500 check from the Redlands Police Officers Association.
Donated toys were on display at the airport Dec. 6 for the end of the toy drive. (Photo by Stephanie Hastings-Miranda, CFR)
On the airport tarmac, cadets from Civil Air Patrol’s Redlands Squadron 411 spent the morning organizing and staging donated items in front of a restored 1950s military trainer aircraft. The youth auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force was founded in 2019 by 1st Lt. Randall Layne, who said the squadron focuses on leadership development, aerospace education and STEM opportunities for members ages 12 to 21.
Cadets with Civil Air Patrol’s Redlands Squadron 411 sort and load donated toys into a Salvation Army truck during the annual holiday toy drive at the Redlands Municipal Airport on Dec. 6, 2024. (Photo by Stephanie Hastings-Miranda, CFR)
Saturday’s event also featured a pancake breakfast and a barbecue lunch. Families were invited to try out flight simulators in the airport lobby, explore aircraft on display and meet Santa, who handed out candy during his visit.
Hundreds of donated toys line the pavement beneath a vintage aircraft during the Redlands Municipal Airport’s annual holiday toy drive on Dec. 6, 2024. About 60% of the toys were collected from donation sites around town. (Photo by Stephanie Hastings-Miranda, CFR)
A Historical Aircraft Display showcased planes flown in by pilots from regional airports, many of whom arrived with toy donations. The airport partnered again with LifeStream for an on-site blood drive.
Gablin said the annual event reflects the spirit of generosity that defines the airport community.
A former local TV news producer, Stephanie launched CFR in 2023. Originally from Michigan, she’s made Redlands home with her husband and three kids. When she’s not reporting, she’s problem-solving at the climbing gym or trying new local restaurants.
