Jim Heffernan knew Beth Foster was the perfect person to take over as the head of the Toys for Tots program he began in Montana 30 years ago, after she conned a guy into loaning her a forklift in below-freezing temperatures so they could unload a semi-truck full of Christmas presents.

"It was a brutally cold winter day, and we were going to have to unload these pallets by hand," Heffernan recalled with a laugh. "All of a sudden, from around the corner, Beth comes driving up in this forklift. She said it was just another part of her expertise that she could drive it.

"I thought 'this is unbelievable.' These guys were going to kill me if we would have had to unload those pallets one at a time. She saved me. And you know what? No matter what the job is, no matter how difficult it is, she works with us as a team and we can do it."

On one hand, it's a bit unusual for the slim brunette with no military experience to lead the Helena effort in the national Marine Corps Reserve project, where new, unwrapped toys are collected then distributed as Christmas gifts to needy children. On the other hand, Foster is a perfect fit.

"The main thing is somebody has to take over who loves children as much as I do and willing to sacrifice their time," Heffernan said. "Beth and her daughters, Carrie and Jill, have helped us for years. Her organizational skills are superb, and I respect and admire her for the way she handles her family, other folks and children. Quite frankly, I told her there was nobody, but nobody else but her that would I turn this over to."

Foster and Heffernan don't recall the details of their first meeting, but both say it happened shortly after Foster's family moved here from Indiana in 1997. Foster had recently lost her grounds supervisor job, and her husband, George, threw the proverbial "dart at a computer" looking for work. He found that in Helena, and the family found a lot more.

Foster wanted to stay home and raise the girls, but she also has a lifelong interest in 4-H and jumped in as a volunteer. She's also played the bagpipes since receiving a set from her grandfather for Christmas, and organized the Thistle Pipe Band. She met Heffernan, a Marine veteran, through the band in 1998.

"He said he had a soft spot in his heart for pipers, and then I began piping for Marine funerals," Foster said. "Piping is a lost art in some aspects, but it started with the military in Scotland, where the pipers would lead the clans into battle. Bagpipes were considered an instrument of war.

"The first funeral I piped had snow blowing sideways and it was freezing. They had the funeral home person there, but there was only one other guy there for the Marine. Standing there, I realized this was something I could give back to the veterans."

As part of a 4-H community project, Foster's daughter Carrie got into the Toys for Tots roundup and distribution. The program started 30 years ago in Helena by Heffernan and a fellow Marine, who wanted to make sure that no child went without a gift on Christmas.

"It's part of the Marine Corps mission to take care of children," Heffernan said. "Our country is very rich, and no child should go without, especially at Christmas."

That first year, Heffernan's crew gathered enough toys for 100 children in the Helena area. Since then, he estimates Toys for Tots has served more than 500,000, not just in Helena but also on Montana's reservations.

They've also delivered hundreds of thousands of books to Montana schools and more than 33,000 Beanie Babies to help law enforcement officials, plus raised money for Christmas meals and more.

It's a tremendous undertaking and Foster said she's just now learning how much behind-the-scenes work Heffernan did in this unpaid position. There are reports to file with the national office, about 65 barrels to drop off and pick up, gifts to wrap and dozens of volunteers to coordinate. In addition, this year Foster and Patti Dutton have put together a "toy train" campaign, in which people can donate money in exchange for a paper railroad car that will go up in various locations, trailing behind paper locomotives.

"Last week, I put 836 miles on my truck doing Toys for Tots stuff, and working 10 hours a day, every day. The day after Halloween, everyone's stress level goes up," Foster said. "But when those families come in, so humble and proud, but at a point where they truly need help, and are so appreciative, I sometimes come away bawling.

"When we're done, the emotions are so deep, knowing that you have helped change a family's life and that those kids will have a Christmas. This is a great organization to be with, to allow people to give back to the community."

But Foster also is realistic about the time and effort it's taking, and already is prepared to hand off the duties next year to a new coordinator. Her children, Carrie, 22 and Jill, 18, are in college and she's trying to start a new organizing business called "Neat Spaces."

Foster also has to squeeze in a little bagpipe time, not just for herself but also to teach others. And then there's the 4-H group she leads.

Yet chances are, next year she'll once again be driving that fork lift, picking up presents, meal vouchers and whatever else is necessary to continue the giving ways of Toys for Tots.

"This is a great group," Foster said. "For my kids in 4-H, to be able to give something back, to help other kids who many not have toys, gives them a real sense of community.

"The 4-H kids come out of that with a real humble experience that will shape them for the rest of their lives."

Reporter Eve Byron: 447-4076 or eve.byron@helenair.com