COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Team BLAZE members participated in the Happy Fund Shop and Wrap Dec. 8, 2016, at the Columbus Club.
Monetary donations to the Happy Fund were used to buy gifts for local underprivileged children for the holiday season. The program was established by the late George “Happy” Irby, long-term staff member at the Columbus Club.
The program was created to provide the children with wrapped presents containing clothing, school supplies, outfits and other basic necessities. From schools around Columbus, children are nominated by teachers to receive these gift boxes.
The event began in the morning at a local business where volunteers shopped for the presents that were to be wrapped. From there, the presents were brought to the Columbus Air Force Base Club to be wrapped by more volunteers.
“I volunteered for the Happy Fund Shop and Wrap last year and saw what a good cause it is,” said Carly Lasher, 37th Flying Training Squadron Key Spouse. “I wanted to be a part of it again and so I went through the spouse’s Facebook page and found volunteers to help with the wrapping. We had more than enough people to go around and we finished over 400 boxes.”
Among the wrappers were several spouses and Airmen who volunteered their time to show their support.
“My role in the Happy Irby Shop and Wrap was to be a runner,” said Chief Master Sgt. Johnathan Hover, 14th Flying Training Wing Command Chief. “My job was to make sure the wrappers had everything they needed to continue wrapping without having to move from their station to pick up supplies. Seeing what this wing’s members did for these kids, by donating their time to help them have a better life was phenomenal.”
The Happy Irby Fund takes donations throughout the year to pay for the gifts, boxes and wrapping paper. The Happy Fund is an organization members can donate to and support through the Combined Federal Campaign.
“The best part about the Happy Fund is that it is a non-profit organization that partners with the local community to give the kids of this city things they really need,” Lasher said. “The boxes are all packed with essentials they might otherwise not have.”