Airmen give youth reason to smile

Cannon Air Force Base airmen are bringing Christmas into the lives of children in difficult circumstances.

The Angels in Blue program, organized by Cannon’s Family Support Center, is providing gifts to children at New Mexico Christian Children’s Home and Baptist Children’s Home near Portales. Donors delivered gifts to the Christian Children’s Home Dec. 6, and are scheduled to bring presents to the Baptist Children’s Home on Saturday.

Also, the Security Forces Squadron is participating in the Clovis Police Department’s Shop with a Cop program, which provides underprivileged children with $100 Wal-Mart gift cards and law enforcement officers to take them shopping.

The shopping excursion is set for Dec. 22 at the Clovis Wal-Mart. Organizers are still taking donations.

Senior Airman Wesley Carter participated in Angels in Blue for the first time this year, and visited the Christian Children’s Home to deliver his gift.

“In the end when you see their faces and how happy they are, it’s all worth it,” he said as home resident Christian Murvin, 9, showed his friends the Lincoln Log toy set he received from Carter.

Yolanda Infante of the 27th Special Operations Wing Medical Group said the children’s home sends her a Christmas list from the children, and then an airman selects a child to sponsor and tries to fulfill the list.

Lt. Col. Kim Bradley of the 27th SOW Medical Group said the program serves a segment of the community that is sometimes overlooked.

“We have to take good care of our children if we want good citizens for tomorrow,” she said.

In the Shop with a Cop program, Staff Sgt. David Heptinstall of the Security Forces Squadron said his group collects donations from Cannon, helps with other fundraisers and provides personnel to escort children. Wal-Mart doesn’t charge tax for Shop with a Cop purchases.

As of Monday, Heptinstall said, Shop with a Cop had $12,000, and so could support 120 children.

“A lot of the time, these kids come from homes that aren’t good for them,” Heptinstall said.

Many of the children see the police as “bad guys,” and the program strives to change that, he continued. Also, Heptinstall said the children might not have much of a Christmas without Shop with a Cop.

Even then, the children often buy more for their families than for themselves, Heptinstall said.