VENTURA COUNTY, CA­ — In a community thank you to military families at Naval Base Ventura County, the U.S. Rep. Elton Gallegly and Friends Operation Toy Drop will once again present toys and food primarily to families who have a service member who has been deployed, is deployed or is scheduled to be deployed.

WHEN: Sunday, Dec. 4, 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m., Naval Base Ventura County, when Santa will arrive from the North Pole on an Air Force C-130 bearing gifts for the children. (Interested media are requested to call Vance Vasquez, Naval Base Ventura County Public Affairs Office, at (805) 989-8095 by COB on Thursday Dec. 1.)

WHO: Santa, Elton & Janice Gallegly and Friends

WHAT: Packaging and distribution of:

· Approximately 500 bicycles, battery-operated quads, and tricycles

· Approximately 750 age- and gender-appropriate gift bags with toys and/or sporting goods

In addition, food to be distributed on another date will include:

· 400 hams

· 400 Marie Callender’s pies

· 2,000 pounds of potatoes

WHY: To thank the families who also sacrifice when a loved one is deployed to defend the United States and all Americans.

BACKGROUND: About nine years ago, Elton and Janice Gallegly were asked to donate 100 turkeys by Matilda “Miss Tilly” Ahearn, founder of the Military Families Food Bank at Naval Base Ventura County, for the annual Thanksgiving and Christmas thank you. In the following years, hams and potatoes were added. Toys were added about five years ago, with bicycles added three years ago. It has grown each year as more members of the community learn about it and wish to contribute. For example, last year the U.S. Rep. Elton Gallegly and Friends Operation Toy Drop provided more than 450 bicycles and 700 gift bags for the children together with Christmas dinner for more than 600 military families.