Hanscom AFB, MA (Jan. 19, 2021) – Hanscom Air Force Base continued the tradition of giving back to the community for the holidays by collecting donations to purchase warm winter clothing for their annual Giving Tree program. This year 19 children from 8 families received clothing through the program, which is coordinated through Hanscom Federal Credit Union and has been in operation since 1990.
“We’re glad to be able to provide some comfort to families again this year,” said Ray Phillips, Hanscom FCU’s chairman of the board. “For so many families, especially military families moving to Massachusetts from a warm climate, buying new winter hats, gloves, boots, and coats can be so costly. Each year we’re humbled to see the donations roll in for these folks in our community, and we appreciate being a small part of it.”
The Giving Tree is set up at the Hanscom AFB Exchange during the holiday season each winter. The tree is decorated with ornaments, each of which includes the winter clothing needs of a child. Volunteers select ornaments from the tree and fulfill the requests for first sergeants and school guidance counselors to deliver to families in need. Donations are delivered before the holidays and the winter break. This year, to minimize physical contact between gift givers and their recipients, volunteers donated gift cards for the credit union to purchase clothing for the first sergeants and guidance counselors to deliver directly.
Photo caption: Hanscom FCU’s annual Giving Tree program, the tree on display inside the Hanscom Base Exchange, provides warm winter clothing to local families in need.