Photo By Airman 1st Class Bridget Rossignol | Trish Niedorowski, left, poses for a photo at an event as the executive director of...... read more read more
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BANGOR AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Me. (Jan. 12, 2025) – Every holiday season for the last six years or so, a conference room in the 101st Medical Group at the Bangor Air National Guard base has turned into the “Elf Shop”. Toys, clothes, and necessities line the chairs and walls, ready to be packed in wrapping paper and ribbons for local families in need through Wings for Children. It’s a sight that brings joy in a time that can be hard for many people. Wings is a local non-profit corporation that partners with parents and providers to deliver quality case management services.
Bangor Air National Guard Chief Master Sergeant Stanley Niedorowski, Wing Command Chief of the 101st Air Refueling Wing, was the First Sergeant of the Med Group at the time the partnership began. His wife, Trish Niedorowski serves as the Wings executive director. Together, they formed a yearly program that quickly became the highlight of the holidays for many members of the 101st Medical Group.
“Years ago, when we were trying to find families to adopt for Christmas, Chief Niedorowski connected us with Trish,” said Senior Master Sergeant Mary Pelletier, health administration supervisor of the 101st Med Group. “Trish was able to provide us with families, and she has always been so grateful for how much we’re able to help her and the families out.
“It is completely our unit members who raise all this money,” said Master Sergeant Meranda Fern, health service management for the 101st Med Group. “The average is between two to three thousand dollars each year.”
The goal of the Med Group members is to raise enough money to get more than just the necessities that the families are asking for.
“They usually send us a list that says one kid is looking for a pair of boots, or a sweatshirt, and they don’t really ask for much,” said Fern. “We’ll get those few things they ask for and then we get toys, stockings, and other things we’d typically get for our own families, to try and provide them with a beautiful Christmas that they may or may not have had.”
Being able to go above and beyond the necessities and get items for the parents as well is what brings the guardsmen the most joy.
“They’re usually single parents that are struggling financially,” said Pelletier. “We get gift cards for the parents and things like that.”
This year enough money was raised to get a laptop for one mom.
“There was one mom who was homeschooling her daughter who has a lot of medical issues going on, so that’s why she can’t go to school,” said Technical Sergeant Taylor Staples, public health technician for the 101st Medical Group. “Getting that laptop was probably one of the biggest things we’ve done.”
Once the money is raised, the Med Group members turn into elves. They get busy shopping for all the gifts, wrapping them up, and ensuring they’re ready for delivery by Christmas.
“This year we actually went through and planned the night before what toys and options we had and what aisles they were in to kind of streamline our shopping,” said Fern. “It usually takes us like five hours just to do the shopping.”
This year they bought items like arts and craft sets for some kids, and a fishing set up for others. They were able to expand their selection of stores to shop at this year as well.
Pelletier, Staples, and Fern each expressed how grateful they are to take part in such a meaningful tradition.
“I’ve kind of seen it firsthand having foster children before,” said Pelletier. “It’s a guilty feeling as a mom not being able to provide something special for your kids. I know how much it means to them to be able to provide something under the tree for their kids on Christmas morning.”
“I was raised by a single mom,” said Staples. “Now that I’m older, I understand how hard that actually was for my mom, and the struggles she went through to provide for me.”
“For me, the best part is when we drop off those gifts and see how much we’re able to provide these families that wouldn’t normally have it,” said Fern. “Trish and all the case managers start crying because they’re so grateful, and then we start crying with them.”
Trish is truly the backbone to this partnership and inspires the Med Group to continuously give back.
“Picture the nicest, most caring person in the world, and then multiply that by a thousand,” said Staples. “The way she reacts to the gifts every year is like it’s the first time, and that’s just her as a person.”
The Med Group hopes that in future years to come, the partnership with Wings can expand to other shops on base picking up their own families to raise money and buy gifts for.
“Trish has many families that are all in need,” said Pelletier. “I know she gets very emotional when we show up, and she always writes a thank you note that is just so heartwarming.”
For the 101st Med Group, this yearly tradition is a highlight of their holiday season.
“This is something we’re just happy to do every year,” said Staples. “It kind of gets you through work too, knowing that you’re able to actually do this for other people.”
| Date Taken: | 01.12.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 01.14.2025 08:43 |
| Story ID: | 488963 |
| Location: | BANGOR, MAINE, US |
| Web Views: | 358 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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