On Tuesday, December 10 at approximately 9:30 a.m., fifteen Angel Flight West Utah Wing volunteer pilots will arrive at Cedar City Airport with toys, school supplies, books, backpacks, warm clothing…and Santa…bringing an early Christmas to nearly 600 children at East Elementary School. This marks his fourteenth annual run with the Utah AFW helpers and, as usual, Santa’s plane will be the last to land.
Santa and Mrs. Claus will be joined at Cedar City Airport by area Eagle Scout candidates Dallin Henrie and Eric Lambert, who have gathered school supplies, clothing and toys and held a fund-raising dance for area high school students as their Eagle Scout Service Project. Salt Lake area candidates—Caleb Clayton, Alex Wilkerson, Austin Wooley, James McIntyre and Nolan Coburn—have gathered donations as well and will arrive on the planes.
Volunteers from the Triple Deuce National Guard Unit and Southern Utah University will help unload the planes and transport donations. With a fire engine and police escort leading the way, students, scouts and pilots will travel to East Elementary to deliver Christmas to the children.
Since the first Santa Flight in 2000, members of the Utah Wing have worked with local communities to gather needed toys and supplies and have delivered them to rural communities throughout Utah.
AFW UT Wing Leader Steve Bollinger, Outreach Coordinators Phil Titus and Joanne Brattain, and Scout Leaders have worked on this project since September. According to Bollinger, “The partnership between AFW and the Scouts has been critical in the success of this project.”
As with every Angel Flight mission, the pilots donate their time, talent, airplanes, fuel and operating expenses.
Founded in 1983, Angel Flight West is a nonprofit, volunteer-driven organization that arranges free, non-emergency air transportation in response to health care and other compelling human needs. The Utah Wing has 38 pilots and flies over 100 missions a year within and through Utah. Visit us at http://www.angelflightwest.org. or on Facebook
http://www.newsday.com/business/press-releases/angel-flight-west-and-eagle-scout-candidates-bring-santa-and-gifts-to-600-east-elementary-kids-in-cedar-city-1.6552179