944 FW members help get toys ready

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Louis Vega Jr.
  • 944th Fighter Wing, Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, ARIZ. --  944th Fighter Wing members helped get toys ready this holiday season in preparation for Operation Holiday Open House.

Military Assistance Mission teamed up with local organizations to collect holiday gifts for Arizona Military and their families. The groups collected thousands of toys for the open house.

"This year's event was great, it gets better every year," said Shawanda Harris, 944th Force Support Squadron volunteer. "Hopefully more people can come out and volunteer next year. It felt good seeing the excitement in all of the kids and parents faces and knowing that I was a part of that."

The event was for all branches (E-6 and below) of Active Duty, National Guard, Reserve and their families and kicked-off Saturday, Dec. 20 from 12pm - 4pm at the Navy Operation Support Center, at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz.

It was an opportunity to relieve some of the financial burdens that go along with the holidays for the Military members and their families.

At the event there was a trackless train, face painting, Santa, fire truck, arts and crafts and a bouncy house.  Over 1,600 people attended and everyone was able to take home a 13 gallon trash bag full of toys.

"This is the first year I have volunteered for the NOSC event and attended the event on Saturday," said Senior Airman Jacobi Goodman, 944th Civil Engineer Squadron volunteer. "They helped my 4-year old daughter pick out gifts for her sister, and they also made sure she was safe until we were reunited, I felt that it was a huge success."
  
Civilians and military personnel from all services volunteered their time to make sure that military families have a wonderful Christmas this year.