Donations help feed military families for the holidays
The holiday season is here. It's once again time to start thinking of what you'll be sending your friends and loved ones.
While you are at it, the Officers Spouses Club at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma is asking that you think about lower-income military families as well.
Sara Bierce, a club spokeswoman, explained that one of the largest projects the club takes on every year is its Holiday Basket program, which provides all the ingredients to make a holiday meal.
Last year the club decided instead to give out $30 and $50 gift cards and is planning to do so again this year. She said with the decline in the economy and the price of food soaring, putting a holiday meal on the table has become increasingly hard for some of the air station's Marines and sailors.
“Sadly, a lot of enlisted Marines and young families don't have the resources,” Bierce said. “We decided to go with gift cards again this year because it worked out so well, and they enjoyed it better than getting a can of sweet potatoes they don't even like.”
Bierce said the gift cards are for the commissary, so the Marines and sailors don't have to leave the air station to buy the turkeys, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberries and pumpkin pies they need for their holiday meals.
For Thanksgiving, the club gave out 30 $50 gift cards and would like to do the same for Christmas.
“The community donated quite a bit of money last year and we are doing the same thing this year,” Bierce said. “So far we have received almost $1,000 in donations.”
The gift cards are given to the Marines and sailors who have contacted their respective squadrons or units asking to be registered for the Holiday Basket program. That number, Bierce said, has seemed to grow every year.
Anyone interested in making a donation to the OSC for holiday baskets or needing additional information is encouraged to call Bierce at 1-505-239-0967 or Hilga Diviny at 503-0830. Donations can also be sent to Yuma OSC MCAS Yuma, P.O. Box 12735, Yuma, AZ 85365.
