Holiday Spirit Drive takes care of our own

***image1***The Seventh Annual Holiday Spirit Drive happens 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 4 outside the Vogelweh Commissary and the Ramstein PowerZone.

With a hometown feel, American Forces Network Kaiserslautern provides the music and framework for KMC organizations and members to offer prizes, and announce challenges and pledges over the airwaves, Z100.2 FM.

“The Holiday Spirit Drive is an opportunity for Soldiers and Airmen in the community to take care of themselves,” said Master Sgt. Michael W. Burnette, AFN Kaiserslautern Radio Department’s NCOIC and this year’s Holiday Spirit Drive producer. “The money raised is spilt down the middle and goes toward the needs of Soldiers and Airmen and their families.”

Last year, the Holiday Spirit Drive collected $10,500, which was divided and given to the Air Force’s KMC First Sergeants Council and the Army’s KMC Sergeants Major Association. This year’s goal is to “meet it or beat it,” said Sergeant Burnette.

For the Air Force’s KMC Top 3, the spirit drive is one day of their Ring the Bell Program where they collect money outside of Ramstein commissary and Base Exchange on Saturdays and Sundays from Thanksgiving until Christmas. Ring the Bell collects money for the KMC First Sergeants Council’s Holiday Cheer Program.

Through this program and the spirit drive, the KMC First Sergeants Council gives food vouchers to Airmen families for their Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. Last year, the council was able to give vouchers to 500 Airmen families.

The KMC Sergeants Major Association gives the money collected during the spirit drive to the 415th Base Support Battalion Chaplain’s Fund, which collects money during the year for the Operation Helping Hands. This program provides food vouchers to Soldiers’ families identified by command sergeant majors. Last year, 411 Army families were helped through this program.
Kaiserslautern United Service Organizations, Defense Commissary Agency and Army and Air Force Exchange Service add to the hometown atmosphere of the Holiday Spirit Drive.
“We do this because we have a spirit of community,” said Sergeant Burnette. “We care about our own, and we do this cooperative venture during the holidays to take care of our own.”
For more information about this year’s spirit drive, call AFN Kaiserslautern at 489-7206 or 0631-536-7206.