JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. -- A few of Santa’s little helpers from Joint Base Charleston made a special Christmas delivery to Veteran residents at the Charleston VA’s Patriot Harbor Community Living Center Dec. 14.
“In light of the Christmas season we wanted to do something special for our local disabled Veterans that live at the Ralph H Johnson [VA Medical Center],” said Barbara Sosebee, 315th unit training manager.
Sosebee requested a donation wish list from Cindy Ingels a recreation therapist at the Veterans hospital. Ingels provided Sosebee with a list of the inpatient residents at the VA’s Patriot Harbor CLC along with items they desired. 315th Airlift Wing Reservists came through and donated everything the aging Veterans wanted and more!
Some of the items the Veterans asked for included, hats with their service insignia on them, T-shirts, DVD movies, music CDs, sweaters, blankets, Nehi orange soda, jackets, a Keurig coffee maker and coffee, picture frames, magazines.
While individual Veterans requested these items, the gifts will remain on the floor for the Veterans use.
The Charleston Reservists wore their Airman Battle Uniforms with Santa hat as they personally handed out the gifts to the Veterans Thursday.
Ingels said the Veterans were making presents for each other when the Reservists showed up bearing their own gifts.
"One gentleman kept smiling over and over saying it's Christmas? When Cindy hung his stocking so he could see it he was grinning from ear to ear," Sosebee said after the visit to the VA.
"Cindy at the VA did an awesome job getting their wish list to us so the guys were extremely happy with the presents they received," Sosabee said.
"I will definitely do this again! It touched my heart so much and I truly believe doing this represents the true meaning of Christmas; Giving, Love, and even just a moment of the Christmas spirit!" Sosebee added.