Photo By Pfc. Kyle Kimble | Ionut Sandu, Salvation Army regional leader, gifts a bicycle to a kindergarten student...... read more read more
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ROMANIA— The holiday season is in full swing in Constanta, Romania, and the team of the Salvation Army Romania gets to work with the Angel Tree Program. This kicks off a special week at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, with the religious affairs office spreading holiday cheer through charity.
On Dec. 16, 2024, the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division Chaplain, Maj. Wade Shepard helps Dave Haas, a Salvation Army Community Development Manager, collect the donations from under the tree.
Angel Tree is a charitable program that provides holiday gifts to children who might not otherwise receive them due to their families' financial situation. With the support of the 10th Mt. Division, Angel Tree has the goal of giving back to the local communities of our NATO allies.
“These are kids who could use some Christmas cheer, help, and spirit,” Shepard says following the pack up for gifts to go to schools in Bucharest.
The donations that are submitted by MKAB personnel get loaded onto Salvation Army vehicles and driven to schools in the area. Service members choose a tag from the angel tree with a description of a child to purchase gifts for. This act of charity is then completed by volunteers and Salvation Army personnel who present gifts in person.
“It’s crucial for us to show service members they have opportunities to connect with meaning and purpose in a unique way” Shepard mentions, understating the importance of morale, and charity.
Donations made are not mandatory. Each one is made by Soldiers who’ve volunteered.
On Dec. 17, Shepard, Haas, and U.S. soldiers assigned 3-10th BCT travel to Constanta to buy gifts for kids from the tree who do not have ones yet, handpicking all gifts using notes children wrote containing requests for particular items they want.
Funded by the Salvation Army, gifts were generous, with donations of shoes, toys, clothing, and even bicycles.
“We have faith that we’re joining others,” Sheaprd says, “and people that we don't even know to help put a smile on their face,” Shepard says this reciting how special it is to participate in something as charitable as Angel Tree.
On Dec. 18, volunteers took the gifts collected throughout the month to Secondary School Nr. 1 Targusorf to hand off to the students during the school day. Christmas is a very special holiday to a lot of children. Excitement runs ramparts when gifts are handed out.
“You guys come here in an isolated village and bring gifts to these kids who have struggles,” said Toropahs Costin, an English teacher at Secondary School Nr. 1 Targusorf, “Life can be very tough, especially economically in Romania and them receiving gifts makes it a very special Christmas.”
The holiday season a time of joy for people around the world, and the work that the Salvation Army and U.S. Army do together in order to spread morale, and holiday cheer through the Angel Tree program vitally important.
Family and tradition is what Christmas means to Constin and so many other Romanians. What he said stands true for so many, and during times when Soldiers may be away from their families, and others aren't as fortunate to get gifts, Angel Tree is an important program to connect with the local community and keep morale strong at MKAB.
| Date Taken: | 12.18.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 12.20.2024 05:21 |
| Story ID: | 487926 |
| Location: | RO |
| Web Views: | 32 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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