Make holidays brighter for less fortunate Published Nov. 1, 2006 By Master Sgt. Joe Davis 71st Medical Group Vance Air Force Base, Okla. -- The holiday season is rapidly approaching and if you are like me, you're focusing on just how special you're going to make it for your loved ones. Now place yourself in the shoes of some of our young military families who are raising their children without the emotional, physical and financial support many of us take for granted. These families are faced not only with separation because of deployments, but also financial challenges to make ends meet throughout the holiday season. Fortunately, at Vance Air Force Base, we have the Airman's Assistance Fund. Under the assistance fund, we have several facets including Operation Warmheart and the Angel Tree Program. Operation Warmheart ensures our young military families have what they need to make the holidays a little more special. Historically, the first sergeants relied heavily on the overwhelming generosity of our neighbors outside the gate. These business owners typically would provide close to $3,000 annually. The local community was extremely supportive this year by sponsoring the Airmen's Appreciation Night and several golf tournaments. As the year is coming to a close, we want to shift our focus and rely on our own folks within the military community. We plan on soliciting funds from Vance's private organizations but unfortunately, these organizations alone won't hit our goal of $4,000. We are going to have to rely on the generosity from you to help fund the purchase of food certificates, which will be used at our commissary to purchase holiday meal items. In the near future, first sergeants are going to put donation cans throughout the wing where our Airmen can make donations to help us make the holidays a little more special. Last year, Team Vance was able to make the holidays less stressful for 23 families. Another successful program is the Angel Tree Program, which is a cooperative effort between the base chapel and the Airman's Assistance Fund, to purchase gifts for less fortunate children identified through the assistance fund. The base chapel will soon set up trees in the main exchange and chapel and hang on them paper angels with several children's ages, sex and their interests. A generous patron then purchases the appropriate item for the child and drops it off in the boxes located near the trees. Fortunately, Vance was able to purchase toys for more than 60 children last year. For more information on the Airman's Assistance Fund, please contact your group first sergeant.