Santa Space Toy Drive

[Lunadyne]

Years ago, while serving as president of the North Texas chapter of the National Space Society, I was trying to think of projects the chapter could undertake to enrich the 'space'-iness of our community.  I proposed to the chapter that members donate space-themed toys, and then we would collectively donate them to a local toy drive.  Thus began the chapter's 'Santa Space Toy Drive'.  Over the years NSS of North Texas has donated hundreds and hundreds of space toys to needy kids in the community.

Having just dropped off a box of space goodies at a local fire department, and basking in the warm glow of good karma, I would like to encourage readers to do something similar in their own community.  It shouldn't be too late to donate, so if you haven't already donated to your local toy drive go out and buy a space toy (if you can find one, and no, Star Wars doesn't count) and donate it to a local toy drive.

There are many very selfish reasons for doing so.  The main reason I do so is because we have no idea where our next Einsteins and Newtons are going to be coming from, and there could be some kid in some ghetto or trailer park who could have the potential to, IDK, unlock the mystery of gravity as a 3D manifestation of a 4D phenomenon, as a wacky example.  It might just take a small nudge to get them thinking about space, and our collective space future.

Coming from a business background, there was a good reason chapter-wise to undertake the event - to try to get the chapter name on TV.  A local TV station provides news coverage of big drop-off events, and there's always the potential of boxes of space toys being shown on local TV (as well as the chapter name, which has happened).

There's also the selfish reason that it is imperative upon all readers to help promote space activities in the broader community as the solution to some of society's problems.  There's not a whole lot of support for space activities in the broader community beyond a holistic 'yeah, it's kind of cool'.  When we need to have levels of interest that can help support broader financial investment in the industry.  The space industry is one in which the USA has had a clear commercial competitive advantage, though we seem to be squandering it.  A higher tempo of space activities requires more than government financing, so we need to encourage a broader societal understanding of space activities.

One way to do that is to get the kids interested.  As most parents will develop some interest in their kids' interests.  So go out and get a space toy and donate it to a local toy drive.

You could be shaping the future.

Michael Whelan - Ultimate Sandbox