Reservists act as ‘Santa’ for Veteran’s Home residents

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Jeffrey S. Williams
  • 934th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL JOINT AIR RESERVE STATION, Minn. (AFPN) --  Santa visited the residents of the Minnesota Veterans Home in Minneapolis Dec. 13, but this time he came in the form of the Air Force Reserve.

Reservists from the Minneapolis-based 934th Airlift Wing purchased presents for 71 of the home’s residents and donated 73 miscellaneous gifts through the home’s needs list. Some of these donations included 240 electric razors that were given on behalf of the 27th Aerial Port Squadron from an anonymous donor, eight DVD/VHS combination players and five boomboxes given by the 934th Maintenance Group through the Wing’s “Adopt-A-Vet” program.

“We had our people contact the Veteran’s Home and ask them what they could use,” said Senior Master Sgt. Dave Pudney, 934th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron fabrication flight chief. “After asking everyone in the group to voluntarily contribute, we ended up raising around $1,100. After purchasing the DVD/VHS players and boomboxes, we still had $238 left that we donated to the Veteran’s Home general fund so the residents there can enjoy their card nights, bingo games and the occasional baseball game.

“I set a goal of $500 and was so pleased that the maintenance group members came through with that much support for the Veteran’s Home. This was our fourth year of support and it was by far the largest,” Sergeant Pudney said.

The 27th Aerial Port Squadron came up with 35 of the 71 gifts for individual residents.

“We raise money to help needy families, the family support center and other causes,” said Chief Master Sgt. Michael Dressen, 27th Aerial Port air transportation superintendent. “It’s just something that we do. The fact that this goes to vet’s who have already given a lot for us is even better.”

For Roger Hanson, 934th Mission Support Group interim commander, the warm expressions on the faces of the residents brightened his day.

“It was fantastic to be able to visit the Vet’s Home and see the smiles that they had. Just seeing the smiles cheered my day up,” he said. “It takes so little for them to appreciate what we bring, and takes so little of our time. It’s much nicer to give.”

Deb Manselle, 934th Services Squadron, said she enjoys having a role in coordinating the Adopt-A-Vet program each year, but would like to see more military volunteers help with the distribution of the gifts.

“We don’t have enough volunteers in uniform,” she said. “We have military guys there who want to see military guys in uniform.”

With all of the organizations available to help at this time of year, the Veteran’s Home is the one nearest to the hearts of the men and women of the 934th Airlift Wing.

“These folks from their past service are the ones who have enabled us to do what we do today, and it was because of their past sacrifice,” said Sergeant Pudney. “It’s only fitting that we help them as much as we can today. After all, we’re all going to be veterans someday. Every one of us.”

Chief Dressen believes the spirit of giving during the holidays helps both the recipients and the givers.

“This helps the residents because some of them have been there a number of years. We don’t actually see them open the gifts, but that’s not important,” the chief said. “The fact that we are able to give to them at Christmas time is important. This is a Christmas thing that we do.”

Even the local community has gotten into the act as one of the unit’s honorary commanders pledged support from the business community to assist the Veteran’s Home with their needs list.

From veterans helping veterans, to obtaining support from business and community leaders, the program has grown from its humble origins four years ago. It couldn’t have been done without the support of individual reservists from the 934th Airlift Wing.

As Chief Dressen said, “We’re like the big Santa Claus of the Minnesota Veteran’s Home in Minneapolis.”