Team gears up to deliver holiday cheer to RI military personnel

By John Howell
Posted 10/27/16

Brigadier Gen. Christopher P. Callahan of the Rhode Island National Guard knows first hand what Operation Holiday Cheer can mean. Callahan was on deployment more than a decade ago when he received some of that Rhode Island holiday cheer.

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Team gears up to deliver holiday cheer to RI military personnel

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Brigadier Gen. Christopher P. Callahan of the Rhode Island National Guard knows first hand what Operation Holiday Cheer can mean.

Callahan was on deployment more than a decade ago when he received some of that Rhode Island holiday cheer. It was the connection with Little Rhody that was important. Operation Holiday Cheer gift boxes include Rhode Island-centric items such as Autocrat coffee syrup, Dunkin’ Donuts, a hometown newspaper, and notes from elementary school students.

“It was a little slice of home,” Callahan said of the package.

Tuesday morning, Callahan played a different role in the program.

Rather than being a potential recipient far from home for the holidays, he was assisting Lt. Gov. Daniel J. McKee in launching the program for the 14th consecutive year. Joining them were representatives from a cross-section of sponsors.

The program that was initiated by former Lt. Gov. Charles Fogarty seeks to collect donations, which are then packed by volunteers over one day at the Rhode Island National Guard Armory on Airport Road and then mailed to servicemen and -women who won’t be home for the holidays.

The key dates for this year’s effort are Saturday, Nov. 19, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., when gifts are assembled at the armory, and the following day, Sunday, Nov. 20, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., when they are packaged for mailing. If last year is a reliable guide, the program will mail 350 to 400 boxes.

The program is spelled out on the lieutenant governor’s website where people can check out the troops’ Wish List or volunteer. The link is ltgov.ri.gov/ohc.

“Operation Holiday Cheer is truly a team effort,” McKee said. “It gives individuals, businesses and community groups in Rhode Island a chance to give back to the servicemen and -women who do so much for us each and every day.”

Rallying the community to give and packing the boxes is part of the effort. Another challenge has been identifying Rhode Island military in the various branches of service to get a holiday gift from home.

That’s the job of Kevin McDonnell, who is contracted by the Department of Defense and the coordinator of the Family Assistance Center. McDonnell is reaching out to all the service branches and identifying units with Rhode Island personnel, as there is no central listing.

Both those on the receiving and giving ends of the program spoke Tuesday.

Capt. Sean Fitzpatrick said a letter from a young Rhode Islander wishing him a happy holiday away from home was especially meaningful.

“The support we receive is great,” he said. Master Sgt. Dan Delayo said the box from home lifted his spirits.

Liz McDonald, senior director of emergency services at the American Red Cross, said, “We recognize the sacrifices you [members of the military] have made…and we just want to give you a hug from Rhode Island.”

Mayor Scott Avedisian, who has helped pack boxes and plans to do so again, said the program has such widespread support that fire and police personnel quickly fill the details needed to direct traffic on the day collections dropped off at the armory.

Michael Ryan, director of public affairs for National Grid, pointed out while the company can’t contribute items for the packages as is done by Dunkin’ Donuts, CVS Health and Ocean State Job Lot, it helps pay for the mailing of the packages.

Other major sponsors of the program represented included Electric Boat, the Pawtucket Red Sox, the Girl Scouts, Amica Mutual Insurance and AAA Southern New England.

“This is such an important event in our community,” said Kasim Yarn, director of the Rhode Island Office of Veterans Affairs.

He said home has a special place in the lives of those serving in the military and it is important for the community to work collaboratively to bring the “message that our state cares.”

“Rhode Island is at the tip of the spear when it comes to caring for our military,” he said.

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