Holiday Cheer benefits families Published Dec. 18, 2007 By Christi Spargur 375th Airlift Wing Public Affairs SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- The Scott Company Grade Officers Council, the First Sergeants Association and several other on-and off-base organizations joined forces to make the holidays a little brighter for Joint Total Force Scott families. Operation Holiday Cheer is an annual community service initiative coordinated by the CGOC to provide meals and toys to Scott families in need. "These are families who may need an extra bit of help during the holidays," said 1st Lt. Jennifer Preyer, Holiday Cheer project coordinator. "This includes families who have loved ones that are deployed or on a remote assignment." Operation Holiday Cheer kicks off each year with a food and toy drive. Then, CGOC members package the donations and hand them over to Scott's first sergeants for distribution. Some donations are held in reserve to help families with emergencies throughout the year. "There are a number of charitable causes that grab our attention at this time of year," said Lieutenant Preyer, "and sometimes the needs of our military families are the last to be considered. "It's important we keep our commitment to taking care of each other," she said. "The CGOC's annual Holiday Cheer campaign is just one way to do that." Donations to Operation Holiday Cheer come from a number of area businesses, civic groups like the Belle-Scott Committee, private organizations and patriotic citizens. "Donators understand how hard Joint Total Force Scott works to protect our freedoms and how much they sacrifice," said Lieutenant Preyer. "Their generosity expresses how much they truly appreciate everything our service men and women do. "It is comforting to know that we are surrounded by people in both the military and civilian communities who care and are willing to give so unselfishly to ensure all Joint Total Force Scott families enjoy the holidays," she said.