Managing Editor's Note: Our contributing editor in Minnesota, Abdulkadir Khalif organized a toy drive for children with autism with Totally Kids. We first told you about it HERE. Below is the letter from Jesse Dumas of Totally Kids about the event's success. You can meet Abdulkadir on Saturday at our Age of Autism presentation at Autism One.

Dear Friends,

Recently my company, Totally Kids, partnered with Abdulkadir Khalif and Parents United Against Autism for an Earth Day Toy Recycling Drive with the intent of taking in toys that could be redistributed to families in need affected by autism.   On every conceivable level, it was a tremendous success.  

As a newcomer to the autism battlefront, my business and I had no idea what to expect in terms of response to our little campaign, but thanks largely to the support of Abdulkadir, the PAA, and the readers of this site, we were treated to meeting many parent-warriors that came and spent some time with us. Admittedly, the scope of the campaign was rather small, and in trying to get publicity, we realized just how difficult it was to capture people’s attention.  But in seeing the support that the families give one another, we realized that we had become a part of something very special, albeit much bigger than us.  It absolutely warmed the hearts of my colleagues and I to see the donation box fill up day after day and eventually be taken off by Mr. Khalif to deliver to the children who can use them.   Thank you a million times over to all of you who donated, to all of you who spread the word, and to all of you who are a part of making this problem visible to the ones who need to see.