Team Kadena helps first sergeants' 'angels'

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Amanda Savannah
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  In the Exchange food court sits a Christmas tree decorated with pink and blue angels, waiting to be plucked by anyone who passes by.

The 18th Wing's first sergeants are asking people to help make the holidays a little merrier for Team Kadena members and their families by purchasing a gift for a child that each angel represents.

"The Angel Tree program ... falls under Operation Warm Heart, which is a nonprofit organization that falls under the Kadena First Sergeants," said Master Sgt. Sara Solecki, 31st and 33rd Rescue Squadrons' first sergeant. "The first sergeants look around their squadrons to find individuals who may need a little help providing gifts to their children during the holidays. We place angels on the tree with the squadron and the sex and age of the child. We hope that people will pick an angel and buy a gift or two and place the item in the box next to the tree. I then pick up the gifts and give them to the appropriate squadrons."

The Angel Tree program helps the first sergeants take care of even the youngest members of the wing's Air Force family.

"Families are the backbone of our Air Force members; we can't do our job without them," Solecki said. "It is also important to understand that there are people who still struggle trying to make ends meet even here at Kadena, and it is our job as a community to lessen those struggles and help our neighbors."

Though a young family themselves, Christina and Airman 1st Class John Forsythe, 18th Equipment Maintenance Squadron crew chief, along with eight-month-old daughter Bayleigh, selected an angel from the tree.

"Not everyone is as fortunate as we are," Christina said. "We just want to give something to a family that is less fortunate, because everyone deserves a Christmas."

Solecki added that she would like to thank everyone who has participated thus far with providing an amazing amount of support to Team Kadena families in need, and hopes it continues through the holidays.

People interested in selecting an angel from the tree can do so and donate until Dec. 21. To support the first sergeants' Operation Warm Heart, contact any Team Kadena first sergeant.