A big give made a huge reach

by Airman 1st Class Emily A. Kenney
49th Wing Public Affairs

12/12/2014 - HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- Two hundred and fifty people from Holloman and the city of Alamogordo volunteered throughout Alamogordo for the Big Give Christmas Edition December 9, 2014.

This marks the third year of the Big Give Christmas Edition event, in which teams comprised of community and Team Holloman members sponsor a family in need and provide them with a Christmas they may not have otherwise had.

"This time of year isn't about Black Friday or the day after Christmas," said Master Sgt. Jesse Davis Sr, 54th Fighter Group programs flight chief. "At least, it shouldn't be. It's about having the means to bless a family and give them a better Christmas."

Davis was one of many members of Team Holloman who participated in the BGCE.

"We gave each team a family to bless, and we gave them five dollars to go buy happiness," said Amanda Gallagher, marketing director at Desert Sun Motors and coordinator of the BGCE. "The idea is that you can buy happiness, as long as you're spending it on someone other than yourself."

Throughout the two hours of the event, the 25 teams bought gifts, performed random acts of kindness and bought happiness with five dollars.

"It is fast. It is furious. It is frantic, and it is fun," said Gallagher.

Giving first responders a free dinner, hospital patients free vending machine drinks and senior citizens free cookies were only a few of the simple acts of kindness performed during the BGCE.

"The whole idea of Big Give is that one person can make a difference," said Gallagher. "People think that they can't change the world, so they don't do anything. A whole lot of little somethings equal a really big something."

After each family was presented with their Christmas gifts, the teams went back to Desert Sun Toyota to regroup and have dinner. During dinner, some families stood up and shared stories of how programs much like the Big Give helped them before and have inspired them to give back.

"I think as military members we should give back to the community," Davis said. "If we have the means to help, we should. People often ask, "Why should I help?" Really what they should be asking is, "Why not?"

The number of volunteers for the BGCE has increased from 30 people to 250 over the past three years.

"Now imagine how  25 families, 25 acts of kindness and the 25 five dollar bills affected at the bare minimum 75 people," Gallagher said. "So if 75 people decide to pay it forward, we are doubling our kindness, which is what we should be doing, especially at Christmas."

In addition to what teams purchased for families, many stores throughout Alamogordo provided additional donations.

"Other businesses heard what we were doing here, and it inspired them to give," said Gallagher. "These were small businesses, large businesses, old people and young people. These were people of all shapes, sizes, color, religious preference and political belief systems. It did not matter. We had one heart. It was set to give, and that's what we did."