It was the morning of December 24th when NFARL Lee Johnson, N4WYE, heard an unusual call on 40 meters.
"CQ CQ CQ, this is S4NTA calling any station. I have an emergency traffic regarding gift delivery in the Atlanta area. Come back please!"
Lee quickly grabbed his mic. After a brief exchange, the situation became clear: Santa's sleigh was overbooked, his reindeer were overworked, and he desperately needed a local operator to handle a special delivery to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.
"I've got you covered, Santa," Lee replied. "The NFARL and SEDXC families came through with four large bags of toys from our Holiday Party on the 20th. I can handle this delivery."
There was just one small problem: Lee's vehicle is considerably smaller than a magic sleigh pulled by eight reindeer. As he loaded the enormous bags of gifts donated by club members, his car quickly transformed into what witnesses described as "a mobile toy warehouse with a sunroof somewhere underneath."
The mission was a success. When Lee arrived at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, the staff's expressions said it all—a heartfelt "Thank you for our Children" that Lee says he won't forget.
So the next time someone questions the practical applications of amateur radio, remember: it's not just for emergency communications and DX contacts. Sometimes, it's for when Santa needs a reliable QSO with a local operator who can fill his car to the brim with holiday cheer.
73 and happy holidays from all of us at NFARL and SEDXC!
This is such a great story. The party was a huge success, but the real enjoyment will go to these much-deserved children who are in the hospital over the holidays! Everyone needs a happy hug and a little something to remember it by. Thanks to all of you who made this possible! Merry Christmas