Airmen spread Christmas joy at homeless shelter

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Ray Sarracino
  • 482nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
HOMESTEAD ARB, Fla. --  Twenty Airmen from Homestead Air Reserve Base delivered gifts and holiday cheer to more than 130 children at a local homeless shelter Dec. 3.

The Airmen, part of the 482nd Medical Squadron's Junior Enlisted Council, were escorted by Santa who arrived at Community Partnership for Homeless on a Homestead Air Reserve Base fire truck.

Judging from the smiles on many of the children's faces, the mission was a success.

The idea originated when the JEC decided recently to take on a public service project to give back to the local community.

"It came up during a JEC brainstorming session during a training assembly several months ago," said Senior Airman Mauro Lopez, a medical technician and president of the JEC. "We were looking for a worthy project and serving the homeless so close to our base seemed like a great idea."

The members of the JEC started the project by gathering donations of toys and sweets to distribute at the shelter. Although Lopez couldn't give a specific number of toys, he said it took two trips on a flatbed truck to carry all of them.

The JEC also enlisted the help of the base fire department deliver Santa "in style" in one of the base fire trucks. Delighted children squealed and jumped at the opportunity to quietly express their Christmas wishes to Santa.

The event came on the heels of a church service held at the center which extolled the virtues of giving.

"Right now we have a record number of kids here -- 130, and most of them are under 12 years old," CPH director Ralph Person said. "So this was a perfect time for an event like this.

"A lot of people went to church service here today, and the sermon was about giving. Then a lot of people came out to see Santa. If it weren't for this special event, most people including the kids would probably be sitting around watching television or something like that today."

The event touched many lives, the people who were served as well as the Airmen doing the serving.

"I work so many hours that I don't have the opportunity to get out in the community. I just enjoy giving. I wish I could do more of this," Senior Airman Kayla Ware said. The troops were joined by CPH staff in their enthusiasm for the event.

"The kids need this. Everything the people [482nd Airmen] did was really important," CPH Resident Care Technician Maggie Sabater said. "The kids behaved themselves, too, so I'm proud of them."

Most affected were the families who appeared genuinely moved by the efforts of the JEC.

"This is exciting for the kids. They should always do this," resident Tela Williams said. Another resident, Pilar Vigil said, "Seeing the joy on the children's faces was the best. I wish Christmas was every single day of the year."

When asked how the JEC was going to follow up on its success, Airman Lopez answered as if he had been anticipating the question.

"We are planning events throughout the year: Spring Break, hurricane season, back-to-school, as well as a visit to a VA clinic at some point during the year," he said.