Today was the collection day for Toys for Tots. My day started at 0900 by running over to the distribution center to get my list of pick ups. I was surprised to see we had in excess of twenty locations to pick up the donation boxes.
I was aided by my navigator, Tim aka "Mr. Spock" from the shop. He did a great job by sorting out the list and putting them in order so we didn't run around in circles. I couldn't have done it with out him.
We started our route and were pleasantly surprised by the amount of toys we were collecting. Really good toys and a lot of them. We continued on until it was necessary to feed Mr. Spock. A quick stop at Taco Bell remedied the situation.
We continued until 1500 when all the lights on the truck went out. We had three more stops to make before heading back to the distribution center. We made two of the stops and it was obvious we wouldn't make it back to the center before dark. We were close to DRS, so I called ahead and warned them we were coming.
Pulled into DRS at 1530 and Tim dropped everything and started working on the truck. He found the problem in a light module, cost $700. We agreed that the best thing to do was wire the lights direct. While Tim proceeded to do that, Mr. Spock had Patrick from the shop pick him up and get to the last toy pick up. They were to take it directly to the distribution center.
I kept in touch with the center by phone while Tim worked away on the truck. At 1930, I pulled out of DRS with lights blazing and a new toggle switch on my dash.
I headed to the center with 22 feet of toys. I arrived at 2000 and we unloaded the truck. Everyone there was surprised we had that much and they told me that they could now fill all the requests they had from the kids.
So, I pulled into the yard at 2030, had some dinner and am getting ready to hit the sack. I've had a bad week turning only three loads due to truck and Qualcomm problems, but after today I feel really good.
Thanks to Tim and Beki at DRS, Mr. Spock, and all the people who donated the toys. None of it would have been possible without them.