Santa got a head start this year to rural communities by teaming up with the Salvation Army and the Alaska National Guard
FAIRBANKS, Alaska -The holiday season is in full swing, and Santa is gearing up for a busy couple of weeks.
This tradition all started in 1956 when a flood devastated the town of St. Marys. Nuns at the mission were worried they wouldn’t have toys for the children, having used all their funds to bring food in for the orphanage. A letter was sent to the Alaska National Guard and they were able to deliver goods to the community. Since that time, Operation Santa Claus has evolved into a yearly holiday institution, bringing toys to various communities every year.
The Alaska National Guard then loaded up the packages into two helicopters. Santa gave his reindeer a day off as he caught a ride in the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter.The community of Minto is located 50 air miles west of Fairbanks and is one of the few villages in the district with road access. Buendia works with the logistics Readiness Squadron and said it has taken months to plan this event, but it was all worth it. “It can take months of planning,” she said. “Especially planning what areas we are going to and all the aircraft we are going to be using.”
Wendy Zorea has been with the Salvation Army since she was 7 years old. She said she became a member because the Salvation Army reached out to her family when she was young, and this is her way of giving back. “It is a really good feeling to know that you really are doing something good for other people,” she said.
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