Osan AB children give back for holidays

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Kristin High
  • 51st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  T'was the week before Christmas and all through the base, the children of Osan were scrambling away. Collecting gifts and donations to spread holiday cheer, "5 days of Christmas" to keep joy through the year.

The holiday season is a time for gatherings and the exchanging of gifts.

This year, the student council committee at Osan American Elementary School decided to spread the holiday cheer even further. They hosted a charity drive called, "5 days of Christmas" where the students gathered donations for the base youth center and a local Korean orphanage.

"Each day the students throughout the school were encouraged to donate a specific item for the drive," said Valerie Rainey, OAES staff development teacher. "For example, on the first day, the children donated granola bars.

"The teachers were able to contribute to donations, but all of the work was completely done by the student council," said Rainey. "Every morning throughout the week, they would go to each class and collect items, then sort the donations in boxes. At one point we stopped counting because so many had come in."

The student council, comprised of nine students, collected a plethora of snacks, shampoo and conditioner, body wash, lotion, toilet paper, and toothbrushes and toothpaste, which overfilled more than 20 boxes of essential items.

Bill Elliott, OAES educational technologist and student council advisor, coordinated with MyungJin Orphanage to receive the donations.

"We asked the orphanage what items were most needed and the children were responsible for the rest," said Elliott. "The orphanage is always in need of consumable goods because of the amount of children there, so we're more than happy to help."

The orphanage cares for more than 80 children ranging from a few weeks old to college age.

"The gifts that were brought to us are the most needed items," said YooJung Hwang, MyungJin Orphanage caretaker. "There are many children here including 18 infants, so we go through a lot here at the orphanage. I'm very thankful for all of the donations to us."