OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. -- Members of the Greater Bellevue Area Chamber of Commerce and more than 20 local businesses leaders came together to assemble gift bags as part of Operation Holiday Cheer at the Bellevue Volunteer Fire Department in Bellevue, Nebraska, Dec. 10, 2019.
This was the 20th annual event where bags are filled with an assortment of food, cards, candy and more before being delivered to Offutt Air Force Base dormitory residents.
“It is amazing,” said Kevin Hynsel, Greater Bellevue Area Chamber of Commerce president and CEO. “Bellevue really came through, like they always do, to support our military members in the dorms.”
It’s just the coolest thing to see it all come together,” he added.
Overall, the volunteers worked together in an assembly to fill more than 500 bags.
“This is truly remarkable and inspiring,” said Col. Gavin Marks, 55th Wing commander, who experienced the event for the first time and helped fill bags along with Chief Master Sgt. Brian Thomas, 55th Wing command chief. “What an incredible community we are fortunate enough to be part of and I can’t thank them enough for their continued support.”
All of the gift bag items were donated by various businesses as well as purchased through donations from organizations like the Offutt Advisory Council.
“I’ve never seen anything like this in my entire career,” Thomas said. “The community here is unparalleled in their support of our Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors and Marines.”