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Brotherly Love: Backup for Military Families

By Ukee Washington

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Many military families struggle at this time of year. The CBS3 Joy of Sharing Toy Fest is helping the troops through the USO.

Two famous bearded men, one in North Pole red, the other in Eagles green, visited military families at the Southampton Armory in Philadelphia this week. The party, starring Santa and Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce, was arranged by the USO. These families sacrifice not only their time and their safety on deployment, but their pocketbooks.

"Our military did not take the oath to defend the constitution for the promise of wealth and riches. They do not make a lot of money," said Joe Brooks, president and CEO of the USO of Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey. "The average salary for an enlisted is under $38,000 a year. How do you support a family in this economic climate?"

Army National Guard Sgt. Miles Kamson is a single dad raising two sons, ages 4 months and 4 years.

"Toys are expensive," Sgt. Kamson said, "and kids always want the most expensive one."

So Santa and many invisible helpers are giving these military families a break. One by one, the children picked two toys each from under the tree. Some started playing right away!

Sgt. Kamson described "the smiles on their faces, the joy that they get, of just seeing, 'Somebody cares about me.'"

Some of the toys were provided by CBS3's Joy of Sharing Toy Fest, donated by viewers.

"We're alleviating that worry from the parent to be able to provide for a holiday season," Brooks said.

Fifty members of military families were helped on this evening, but there are many more who could use a lift this holiday. "If you're taking that burden off a warrior's shoulders, that's a beautiful thing," Brooks said.

You can find out how to give at CBSPhilly.com/ToyFest.

CBS3 is also hosting a drop-off day on Tuesday, December 20, from 6 a.m. until 8 p.m. at the CBS Broadcast Center at 1555 Hamilton Street, Philadelphia, PA 19130.

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