Reason for the season

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Benjamin Sutton
  • 366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho --  Heroes wearing different uniforms from all across Idaho converged at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, to help out needy local children during this holiday season.

Thirty-four personnel from the 366th Security Forces Squadron and other Airmen, along with the Mountain Home Police and Elmore County Sheriff's Departments, participated in the 15th annual Shop with a Cop event Dec. 3, 2011.

The program is designed to help promote a positive civilian and military police force image in the local community while giving children a great holiday season.

"Shop with a cop gives children from the local community the opportunity to go out with local police and fire departments as well as security forces personnel to purchase gifts for themselves and their families," said Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Howard, noncommissioned officer in-charge of police services and confinement.

More than 100 children, parents and multiple volunteers met at a local junior high school for a meet-and-greet breakfast where they sang songs and colored pictures before departing to buy gifts.

"After the kids and volunteers have been paired together they load up in police, fire and military vehicles and caravan over to the local store with lights and sirens on," said Laytreda Schultz a sergeant at Elmore County Sheriff's Department. "Volunteers take kids on shopping sprees, have gifts wrapped and of course a visit with Santa before they are released to their parents."

It is also very common for local police force and SFS personnel to purchase gifts for these selfless children who would rather buy gifts for their families than for themselves.

According to Sergeant Rick Viola, Public Information Officer for the Mountain Home Police Department, this event is a memory which lasts a lifetime.

"I remember one instance where a young girl was paired with a military member and she refused to buy anything for herself until she had purchased something for her little sisters," said Viola. When asked what she would like to get herself she stated she had never owned a dress and always wanted one. The military volunteer actually spent more than $100 of his own money buying her clothes.

"We found out later the reason she wanted a dress so much was because she had basically no clothes except what she was wearing," Viola said.

Many children had similar stories and were extremely excited about being able to provide Christmas gifts for their family members.

"I wanted to help my mom and dad so I bought a scooter for me and a football for my baby brother," said one boy.

Another child named Rebecca stated, "I had so much fun today and bought gifts for my entire family. I bought an art kit, two compact disks, a robe and a hat. But my favorite part was getting to shop with two people who are in the Air Force."

Gunfighters were also excited to have the chance to help local area children shop for gifts for themselves and their families.

"We got everything for Rebecca's entire family, including her three dogs," said Airman 1st Class Davin Cruz, 366th SFS patrolman. "Being able to watch her while shopping and seeing how excited she was throughout the event was the best part of the day for me. We had a really good time."

Smiles, giggles and laughter during the event and throughout the day were best summed up by Viola who stated, "This really is the true Christmas spirit, the reason for the season. We help these needy children who without this would probably not have a Christmas. Resources such as base personnel and volunteers are extremely valuable in our effort to assist these amazing kids."