Angel Tree helps bring holiday cheer to area youth

by Senior Airman Hailey Staker
28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs

12/23/2014 - ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D.  -- Thirty volunteers from Ellsworth teamed up with Santa and Mrs. Claus to conduct a special mission to deliver donated gifts to children enrolled in the Youth & Family Services Child Development Center program Dec. 16 in Rapid City, S.D.

The effort - done as part of the 28th Operations Group Angel Tree - resulted in nearly 160 gifts being provided to children.

"This is the eighth year we've done the Angel Tree program," said Col. Greg Payne, 28th OG commander. "My favorite thing about it is this isn't something I or the senior leaders drive, it's the junior enlisted within our organization that make this special event happen. They take great pride in interacting with the kids in the community and giving back."

The Angel Tree program was established in 2007 by a previous group commander who wanted to give back to the community during the holidays, and it quickly became a holiday tradition.

"The gifts from Ellsworth are an encouragement and relief for the parents," said Darcie Decker, Youth & Family Services community outreach director. "The children were thrilled with the gifts, and the parents were so appreciative they had tears in her eyes. It was a positive experience and the whole interaction with the Airmen was so fun, professional and organized."

Not only does this event bring some holiday cheer to families across Rapid City, it strengthens the relationship Ellsworth has with the surrounding community, Payne said.

"We always enjoy interacting with the local community. As a commander, I enjoy seeing the young Airmen in my organization taking the initiative to give back to the local community, and that is what we're doing here today," Payne added.

Tania Buda, event volunteer, said she hopes she brought a smile to the faces of the children she interacted with, as they do for her when they get to meet Santa.

"It is unbeatable seeing a smile on a child's face when they open a present or when they realize Santa Claus knows their name," Buda said. "When I joined the Air Force, I decided to start a new tradition for myself: reach out and find a program where they provide a gift for a child. I pick a couple of children and it is just my way to give back to the community."

This is the first year Senior Airman Teal Schutzius, 28th Operations Support Squadron geospatial targeting intelligence analyst, participated in the Angel Tree program, and hopes she can participate next year as well.

"I think every child should have an opportunity to get presents and really enjoy Christmas," Schutzius said. "The fact that we get to give back to the community is wonderful ... being able to be around kids during the holidays and give back to them is great."