Operation:

While Brad White was in National Guard basic training after Desert Storm started, his mother tied a yellow ribbon around the tree in front of their Glendora home. So when his mother, a cancer survivor and single parent, had plumbing troubles, neighbors made sure she didn’t have to worry about the bills. That kind of charity inspired White to begin Yellow Ribbon America.

“I never forgot that,” he said.

The program collects toys and other items to be distributed to California service men and women overseas, and their families at home for the holidays. White presented the idea to legislators in 2004 and has been running the program ever since.

The program made a stop in Newport Beach Thursday to collect items the city has donated during the month. Mayor Ed Selich was in attendance, as well as a representative from Assemblyman Chuck DeVore’s office — DeVore is on the board for Yellow Ribbon America — as roughly 2,000 to 2,500 items were collected, all of which were donated by community members, organizations and businesses.

This is Newport Beach’s third year involved with the program.

“Newport Beach is one of the leading cities,” said White, chairwoman of the program. “[It] always steps up.”

More than 100,000 items were collected statewide at 12,000 sites, including DeVore’s capital and local office, Ralph’s grocery stores, National Guard bases and other legislative buildings.

Military families in Orange County can pick up the gifts at local bases in Irvine, Santa Ana, Fullerton and Seal Beach Naval Base.

For more information, call (949) 585-7630.

DANIEL TEDFORD may be reached at (714) 966-4632 or at [email protected].