Dorm dwellers get sweet surprise

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Peter R.O. Danielson
  • 55th Wing Public Affairs
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. --  Bellevue and Omaha Community members showed their commitment to junior Offutt service members when they packed holiday care packages during Operation Holiday Cheer on Dec. 13 at the Bellevue Volunteer Firefighter Hall in Bellevue.

"It's a great opportunity to make sure our troops know they aren't forgotten," said Dena Howard, director, service to armed forces and international services for American Red Cross, Nebraska and southwest Iowa region.

More than 650 bags of candy, popcorn, coupons and cards.

The holiday cards were collected by Bellevue Public Schools and the Red Cross. More than 1,200 cards were written by Bellevue elementary and middle school students, and the Red Cross collected more than 5,000 letters from the greater Omaha area. Cards not used in the bags will be sent overseas to service members as part of the "Holiday Mail for Heroes" program.

This is the tenth year the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce has organized Operation Holiday Cheer.

"I often say Offutt has the best community support of any base I've ever been to," said Brig. Gen. Donald Bacon, 55th Wing commander. "This is the type of program that proves how fantastic they are."