Hurricane-ravaged Keesler gets toy delivery

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. (AFPN) -- Christmas is going to be a little brighter for some children at this Hurricane Katrina-ravaged base after people at two bases delivered more than 250 gifts.

A group from Hurlburt Field, Fla., donated more than 102 gifts Dec. 13. On Dec. 9, a group from Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, donated 150 gifts.

"Although this started as a chapel project, it developed into a basewide effort," said Pete Gorczok, parish coordinator at Laughlin. "Chaplain (Capt.) Ken Fisher was deployed from Laughlin to Keesler right after Hurricane Katrina and was deeply aware of the base's needs.

The toy collection project was suggested by Farah Gibb, president Laughlin’s Protestant Women of the Chapel. She got the ball rolling.

"Chief Master Sgt. Ted Pilihos, our command chief, has family in south Mississippi who lost their home. He was instrumental in getting our First Sergeants Council involved," Mr. Gorczok said. "Then the first sergeants at Hurlburt Field (Fla.) joined in.

"We had three Angel Trees -- one at each of our two chapels and another at the base exchange," Mr. Gorczok added. "We had 200 hand-decorated angel ornaments -- 100 for Laughlin children and 100 for Keesler children.”

He said the first sergeants at Hurlburt Field collected the toys.

Captain Fisher, Chief Pilihos, Mr. Gorczok and Ms. Gibb were part of the Laughlin group that brought the toys here. As part of their visit, they toured nearby areas devastated by the hurricane.

"Lots of people have worked really hard on this," Captain Fisher said. "It's great to see the Air Force family work together to support each other in times of tragedy.

“Events like this help solidify why serving our nation and one another is such an awesome privilege and opportunity," he said.