Bellevue Community Brings Cheer to Offutt Dorms
Bellevue Community Brings Cheer to Offutt Dorms
By Chad Watkins
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. — Bellevue Chamber of Commerce members joined other local community leaders and Offutt’s first sergeants as part of Operation Holiday Cheer to assemble gift bags for Offutt’s dormitory residents at the Bellevue Volunteer Fire Department on Dec. 10. Over 40 local community leaders and Offutt Airmen came out to pack 480 gift bags, which the first sergeants delivered to dormitory residents.
“In my 15 years in the Air Force, this is the strongest and most supportive
Master Sgt. Matthew Stretch,
community I’ve ever seen. It’s astonishing to see how much everyone pulls together to give to
our Airmen, with the challenges they are facing over the holiday season.”
55th Logistics Readiness Squadron first sergeant
“This is for our junior enlisted force and often their first time away from home,” said Master Sgt. Matthew Stretch, 55th Logistics Readiness Squadron first sergeant. “It’s great that we have such a strong community relationship that can give them a little extra love this holiday season with these donations. In my 15 years in the Air Force, this is the strongest and most supportive community I’ve ever seen. It’s astonishing to see how much everyone pulls together to give to our Airmen, with the challenges they are facing over the holiday season.”
The chamber, along with the Bellevue Economic Enhancement Foundation, actively start looking for donations 45 days prior to the event but receive interest throughout the year.
“This event is really important to our community just to say thank you to our Airmen,” said Diane Bruce, president of the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce. “It’s a way for us to give back to those young airmen in the dorms to let them know we support them since they made a choice to support us. It is the easiest event for us to get donations and support for. We just appreciate what they do for Bellevue and want to show them the same kind of support.”
Offutt leadership was also present to lend a hand and put things in perspective.
“Imagine yourself–this is the first time you’re away from your family living in a dorm,” said Col Mark Howard, 55th Wing commander. “Maybe you’re from Florida, maybe you’re from Jersey, maybe from Arizona. It’s the first time you’ve ever seen heavy snow, you’re feeling isolated, you’re not really sure how it’s going to go this Christmas, and you get this gift bag from your community, and you actually know this community cares and that your service counts for something.”
