Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center Brings Holiday Cheer to Local Area School

By Hugh Cox, Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center Public Affairs

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (NNS) -- The Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center (NMCPHC) announced Dec. 21 that Christmas will come a little early this year for Norfolk Highlands Primary School in Chesapeake, Va., thanks in part to the efforts of the organization's staff.

NMCPHC staff began collecting gifts for needy students shortly before the Thanksgiving holiday.

The annual event began nearly 20 years ago when NMCPHC partnered with Norfolk Highlands Primary School as part of the Angel Tree program.

Through the Angel Tree program, NMCPHC staff volunteer to sponsor needy children, donating presents every holiday season for children identified by the school.

Ms. Debra MacLean, NMCPHC staff member and coordinator for the program, has been involved with this community relations initiative since 1993.

In spite of the tight economy NMCPHC responded to the call as soon as the list of names was provided to the staff.

"During the Angel Tree season, our staff really come together to make sure each child is cared for," said MacLean. "We had 42 names of children in need this year and our command outdid themselves this year making sure that each one would receive the gifts they wanted and needed."

According to MacLean, along with a wide variety of toys and games, socks, underwear, tee-shirts and pajamas were the items in greatest demand.

Many of the children come from low-income or single-parent families and live in areas where gang violence is prevalent.

MacLean works very closely with Ms. Michelle Meyer, the Norfolk Highlands Primary School counselor in coordinating the Angle Tree effort and providing a little background on the children to assist the "Secret Santas" in what to give the children, beyond what may already be on their lists.

According to Ms. Meyer, unemployment is a big factor with many of these families who are barely able to make ends meet.

"This year, for some reason, seems a little more special," said Meyer. "You cannot believe how your command has touched so many and how overjoyed they were to receive so much."

MacLean and a handful of other NMCPHC staff members brought the gifts to the school Monday, December 19th to ensure that parents had plenty of time to pick them up prior to the school's holiday recess.

According to Ms. Meyer, all the families were amazed and grateful, and one father in particular was overcome with emotion when he saw the bicycles that were waiting for his children.

"His eyes filled with tears and covered his face with his hand, he was so overwhelmed," said Meyer. "They just came from Nigeria and do not have much, and for them to experience the generosity of Americans in this way is priceless."

MacLean was deeply gratified by the outpouring of support from the staff this year.

"It warms my heart knowing that our command has come together once again and done an outstanding job to make sure that 42 kids from a local school wake up on Christmas morning very, very happy," said MacLean.