Saturday, December 03, 2011

Operation Good Cheer uses planes to deliver gifts for foster families

A group of people gathered at the Jackson County Airport and looked to the sky Saturday, waiting for Christmas presents to arrive.

It wasn’t a delivery from Santa Claus, unless he traded in his sleigh for a Cessna.

Operation Good Cheer organizers and volunteers from around Jackson County welcomed planes that were full of gifts for foster families. Planes took off from Oakland County bound for 200 airports throughout Michigan.

“As the planes come in, we greet them and help unload all of the gifts,” said Diana Ripley, Operation Good Cheer coordinator for the Jackson and Ann Arbor offices of Lutheran Social Services.

Ripley said her organization’s staff will sort and distribute the Christmas gifts to about 106 foster children.

This year, more than 4,500 children, teens and adults with disabilities who are in foster care, residential treatment and group homes in Michigan will be opening gifts on Christmas, thanks to the efforts of 48 private child and family social service programs.

Donors give a variety of gifts, ranging from new gaming systems to clothing.

Amy Mansfield, foster care supervisor for Lutheran Social Services in Jackson and Ann Arbor, said they were out to do a good deed Saturday. Staff from Jackson’s Family Services and Children’s Aid office helped, too.

“We are trying to help kids who need it most,” said Tomee Poole, 18, a volunteer from Jackson.

Joe Hass of Troy took out the back seat of his Cessna to make room for four new bicycles. He has been a pilot for Operation Good Cheer for six years.

“It’s astounding how many people and kids are helped by this,” Hass said.

“I love to fly, and this makes it that much better.”

http://www.mlive.com

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