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20th SFS brings holiday joy to children

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Christopher Maldonado
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  In the poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas," by Clement Clarke Moore, Christmas morning is described as a magical time where, "The children are nestled all snug in their beds; With visions of sugar-plums dancing in their heads." 

While many people share this memory of Christmas morning, many children do not get the chance to experience that warm holiday feeling. Airmen assigned to the 20th Security Forces Squadron hosted an event to ensure that some local children and their families could wake up on Christmas morning and experience the season of giving.

The 20th SFS Airmen participated in the second annual Shop with a Cop event, where they accompanied 22 children from the John K. Crosswell Home for Children, Sumter, S.C., as they went Christmas shopping at a local store in Sumter, Dec. 21. The goal was to help the children give presents to their families, while treating themselves to gifts at the same time.

"We took the children shopping and then wrapped the gifts they bought for their brothers, sisters, and other family members," said Tech. Sgt. Kolena Tolentino, 20th SFS unit training manager. "The children also received little goodie bags with fun items for the holiday."

The 20th SFS Airmen helped the children shop for a variety of gifts, ranging from toys to clothing. Each child was given $80 to spend on anything in the store.

"Seeing kids who have had some misfortune in their lives with no fault of their own and to be able to help them out, brings out the joy that comes with the season," said Chaplain (Capt.) Curt Cizek, 20th Fighter Wing chaplain.

Rather than St. Nicholas' sleigh, 20th SFS Airmen loaded the presents into cars sending the children on their merry way, ensuring that as Moore wrote in his poem, everyone would have a "Happy Christmas to all, and to all a goodnight."