Cadets adopt local families for Christmas

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Rachel Hammes
  • U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs
U,S, AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. --  Cadets from Squadron 26 here are giving back to the community this holiday season by buying Christmas presents for two local families.

The project, coordinated through a national support organization, was organized by Cadet 3rd Class Hayley Weir, CS 26's character officer.

"I was tasked to find a project for us to do, and I had done this previously with a church group," Weir said. "I thought it would be a fantastic way to not only bring our squadron together, but to help a few families in need."

The national support organization collected lists from each family - totaling nine people - before passing them on to Weir.

"On this list, I had their needs and their wants for Christmas this year," she said. "We split up the squadron into groups, assigned one or two people (from the list) per group. Those groups are responsible for taking care of their respective people."

Unlike many charitable events, the cadets didn't do any fundraising. Instead, all gifts were bought with personal donations within the squadron.

"It's a matter of taking the personal responsibility for these people," Weir said. "It's just like going out and buying another Christmas gift - you want to make the person feel respected and taken care of."

While the lists contain some requests for toys for the children, the majority of the items are practical, like backpacks for school and winter coats.

"It makes me feel good," Weir said. "There's nothing greater than volunteering, because you're not getting any monetary gain, you're getting a spiritual gain. I feel like that gain is the best kind."

She said the response within the squadron is positive.

"They're ecstatic," she said. "I honestly couldn't ask for a more hard-working group of people to work with. They're just super excited to help these families."

Major Jesse Caldwell, air officer commanding for CS 26, said he is proud of the cadets' initiative.

"This all was started by cadets from day one," he said, adding he thinks giving back to the community is an important part of being in the military. "We're here to serve others," he said. "These are people trying to get back on their feet. I'm very proud to be a commander for this squadron."