Countywide : ‘Desert Didy’ Aids the Little Troops

More than 15,000 diapers, all with personal messages written on the packages and topped with bright yellow ribbons, will be delivered to the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station this week as part of “Operation Desert Didy.”

The program, sponsored by the Huntington Beach-Fountain Valley Board of Realtors, is designed to help financially strapped families of Persian Gulf Marines obtain basic household items they have had to do without, such as canned food and baby supplies.

“Particularly diapers,” said Maj. John Sayre. “Most of the young people have young kids and have to take them to day care, which requires disposable diapers.”

When the members of the Board of Realtors found out about the needs of military families, they began soliciting donations throughout the community.

“We wanted to do something to show our support for the troops, and diapers for their children are essential,” said Judith Legan, vice president of public affairs for the board.

Initially, about 7,500 diapers were to be purchased from Pace Warehouse with $1,500 in donations the group collected. But after the store learned what the diapers were for, Pace offered to match the real estate agents’ contribution with 7,000 more diapers.

“We wanted to be a good neighbor and show our support for the community and troops,” said Frank LaRocco, general manager of Pace. “We felt the need to aid the troops in whatever way that we could and actually made a commitment to do so.”

With the average income of an enlisted Marine ranging from $16,000 to $18,000 a year, most of the troops had part-time jobs as security guards or restaurant workers.

“That is where the problem comes from,” Sayre said. “These families depend on that second income a great deal and not having it cuts deep in their pockets.”

Sayre added that the diaper packages, all with personal messages of support written on them by members of the real estate board, will be distributed to families based on the number of children they have.

“Operation Desert Didy” will continue until Memorial Day. Donations of diapers or funds can be mailed to “HB/FV Operation Desert Didy,” Realtors’ Public Affairs Office, 8101 Slater Ave., Huntington Beach, Calif. 92647.