Contagious Christmas Cheer: Osan family helps other families for holidays

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Chad Thompson
  • 51st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  It began by entering a sweepstakes to win a $500 gift card -- a simple five-minute survey at the Osan USO. What it has turned into is so much more.

Alicia Dryja, wife of Capt. Paul Dryja, 51st Fighter Wing commander's executive officer, won the on-line sweepstakes. Her initial thought of what to do with the money was to save it for Christmas.

"We've been a military family for over 13 years and I can recall the times when there wasn't much money to buy holiday meals or presents for our children," she said. "We've been in situations where we shopped at thrift stores just so our kids would have something under the tree to open on Christmas day."

This family of seven has been through some rough times and has always received help, even when it wasn't asked for. So Dryja decided to do something special with the money she won and help others in need.

She posted a comment on the Osan Air Base Spouse's Club Facebook page to see if anyone on base needed help for the holidays. The response she got was overwhelming, she said

It was clear she wasn't going to be able to help everyone with the $500 she won, so she reached out to more of her friends for help.

It started with a simple message and has turned into an outpouring of support. More than 18 families have been helped so far, with a total of 45 children who will have a Christmas this year due to Dryja's efforts.

The inspiration for this need to help the community dates back several years to a young Dryja family trying to support themselves the best they could.

"I wouldn't have asked for help even if I needed it," Capt. Dryja said. "It was always something you would never ask for."

He recalled a few holidays when he was a young enlisted Airman, and he said the help they received was always unexpected.

"There would be a knock at the front door, and someone from the First Sergeant's Group would be standing there with a big box of food and presents for the whole family," he said. "There has always been someone there to help us."

It's something that's heard a lot during the holidays, and this effort is proof the Air Force is much more than a job, it's a family.