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thedrifter
12-30-05, 02:03 PM
2/29/2005
'Motorcycles for Tots'
By: RYAN TEITMAN
Marines land helicopter to pick up rocking motorcycles for Toys for Tots

The crowds looked to the sky as they heard the CH53 Super Stallion crest the treeline, headed for landing on the football field of Council Rock High School South. These Marines were on a mission - a special delivery for Toys for Tots, courtesy of CR South Wood Technology teacher Thomas Chieffo and his students.

For as long as CR South has been open, Chieffo and his students have built toys, from rocking horses, to scooters, to this year's rocking motorcycles. Each year the project culminates in Marines from Willow Grove Air Base landing a helicopter on the football field, the students loading the cargo bay full of toys and the Marines whisking off to the air base, where the toys will find their new homes.

Chieffo was inspired by his own high school tech teacher, who participated in a similar program every year. Chieffo's introductory woodworking and advanced woodworking classes, about 35 students in all, put together the motorcycles in an assembly line type operation. "I'm very proud of them," said Chieffo. "They really took on the responsibility - cause that's what it is, it's a responsibility - they have to get these projects done in a certain amount of time."

The pace of the work depends on the complexity of the project. This year's motorcycles were a more in-depth project than previous offerings. "We had to stay on a nice, strong pace to get the amount that we wanted done," Chieffo said.

His inspiration for each year's project comes from a tradition in his own family. He makes a handcrafted toy for every newborn member of his family, and his newest nephew received the gift of a rocking motorcycle. He modified the design, and in September, his students went to work building the motorcycles for Toys for Tots.

In all, the students built 85 motorcycles: 50 went to Toys for Tots, and each student got to keep a motorcycle, as a reward for their hard work. "Through the teaching of hands-on tools, the safety of the machinery, I teach them how assembly lines work in manufacturers," said Chieffo. "They get that knowledge, then they take that knowledge and produce a project."

Kathy Guido, a senior at Council Rock, was one of the woodworking students involved in the project. "We've been doing this as long as the school's been open," she said. This is the first year she worked on the project, and her responsibilities included worked on sanding and using the band saw.

"It was fun to have the satisfaction of doing something, let alone doing it during the holiday season for kids less fortunate," Guido said.

But the students weren't the only members of the community putting effort into the project. ColorChef Painting provided a donation to purchase the wood, and Home Depot in Neshaminy, Brian's Harley Davidson and students from Council Rock South made donations to cover the increased complexity of the year's project.

Chieffo approached Brian's Harley-Davidson/Buell in Langhorne, to see if they were interested in donating to the project. "We said absolutely," said Jacqueline Claghorn, the Marketing and Promotions Manager. "It was a natural fit for us to be a part of this project."

Upon seeing the finished motorcycles, Claghorn commented, "They're beautiful."

"We look to partner with the school for future projects," she added.

Major Dave Stockman, one of the Marines from the helicopter, was excited for this particular mission. "I look forward to all these flights because I know it's helping kids in the community."

Stockman also applauded the work done, from the students to the sponsors. "It's a whole community effort," Stockman said.

"It's great to see that high school kids are excited to build toys and drop them off in the community."

Stockman's unit was activated for two years in Iraq, from December of 2001 to December of 2003. "We just got back from Iraq, and then we started this program," Stockman said. The helicopter flight was bound for Willow Grove Air Base, where the Marines will sort the toys and deliver them up through New Year's Eve.

Chieffo is already playing around with ideas for next year's project. As the students loaded the motorcycles onto the helicopter, some of the Marines hinted to Chieffo that next year's project should be a helicopter. Perhaps when the Marines land their helicopter on football field of Council Rock South, the students will be carrying wooden helicopters under their arms.

Ellie