'Angel Tree' flourishes with gifts

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Eric Bolt
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. (ACCNS) --  Children from the Youth and Family Services Child Care Center lined the halls, waiting in a silent anticipation, for Santa and members of the 28th Bomb Wing to arrive. 

The anticipation was broken with sounds of joy as Santa, better know as Master Sgt. Cary Loeffler, 28th Operations Support Squadron Aircrew Fight Equipment assistant superintendent, peeked through classroom windows. 

The 28th Operations Group sponsored, for the second consecutive year, an Angel Tree gift program for the YFS center in Rapid City, S.D., Dec 19. 

"As with last year, we put a tree in the squadron to hold the angel gift cards allowing Airmen to come by at their leisure and select a child to sponsor," Sergeant Loeffler said. This year the 28 OG was able to donate to 161 students. 

After arriving at the YFS center, Santa and Mrs. Claus worked their way from classroom to classroom to personally deliver each gift to the thankful children. 

"The look on the children's faces after I called out their names and handed them their gifts makes this program something I will be willing to do every year I can," Sergeant Loeffler said. 

As Santa and Mrs. Claus throughout the facility, the children ripped open their gifts, most shouting "It's what I've always wanted!" 

"When you work with the kids every day, you want them to get everything they want," said Karissa Eifert, YFS Community Relations coordinator. "For some of the children here, they may not be receiving any other Christmas gifts, and to witness them opening what they described as 'what they have always wanted' is just amazing." 

"The 28 OG does a great job with this program," she said. "The YFS appreciates all of the support for this program and would love to see this continue as an ongoing holiday tradition." 

The 28 OG plans to continue this tradition in the future. 

"Now that we have participated in this program for two years and seen the impact it has on the children the 28 OG would like to continue the tradition in the future," said Lt. Col. Steven Beasley, 28 OSS operations director. "It is great for us to take advantage of yet another opportunity to give back to a community which gives so much to us."