FALL RIVER – On Sunday, October 20, the third annual ChristmasToy Drive will begin for Operation Military Smiles, a Military Friends Foundation 501(c)3 project.  The  state-wide toy drive will kick-off at The Liberal Club in Fall River and OMS hopes to collect more than 10,000 toys in the next four weeks for military kids.

Operation Military Smiles was found by a group of Massachusetts parents who all lost sons in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.  The concept was to carry-on their sons’ memory by paying-it-forward and bring an extra smile into the lives of military families.  Today this project has provided over 10,000 toys and hundreds of gift cards at the holiday season to military families in need.  The unique project allows parents and grandparents, to take part in a complimentary “shopping” experience so that they can hand select toys that best fit their special kids.

“At a time when military families continue to face financial hardships and high unemployment rates, this program allows the MFF  in some small way to help parents create a Christmas morning experience,”  said SGM Jim Kelly, Military Friends Foundation President and Iraq Combat Veteran.

Click here to learn more about the Operation Military Smiles Holiday Toy Drive and how you can get involved!