Christmas Provided For Local Orphans

Filled with holiday spirit, the chapter members played a vital role in the 461st Air Control Wing's "Christmas for the Kids" event that transformed the Methodist Home for Children located in Macon, Georgia. More than 400 people attended the event with the children, including chapter members, community leaders and Robins Air Force Base personnel. In its rich 140 year history of service to Middle Georgia, the Methodist Home had the "best Christmas ever," exclaimed its director. This $60,000 celebration focused on the 82 orphans and culminated with the dedication of an Air Force Heritage Room. Chapter volunteers along with volunteers from Robins Air Force Base completely renovated a 700 square foot traditional game room. After two intense weeks of work, the room had dazzling new paint, a repaired ping pong table, a custom built basketball return, hand painted Air Force legacy murals, a Nintendo Wii gaming center and a custom built combat communications area complete with camouflage netting. Each of the 82 children received a $50 present from their sponsor off of their list to Santa. Additionally, volunteers and sponsors donated and delivered more than $25,000 of gifts for Christmas morning. For one special night, the gymnasium turned into a winter wonderland complete with holiday table arrangements, place settings, twinkling Christmas lights and Santa's workshop. Students from the Atlanta Georgia Culinary School provided the “icing on the cake” by serving a traditional southern Christmas meal. More than just a home for children, the Methodist Home for Children provides a variety of different programs and services, building a crucial link between the children and the local community. The tremendous generosity of the chapter members coupled with the base and local community gave the irreplaceable gift of a Christmas to children without a family, adolescents spending their first Christmas alone, elementary school kids who still believe and teens who are hoping for a new life. The chapter members and local community revived 82 children's hope by showing they care.

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