Child and Family Services of Michigan, Inc., will once again have the incredible opportunity of teaming up with 79 social service agencies and hundreds of generous donors, volunteers and pilots, creating memories for over 7,000 children currently residing in out-of-home placement all across Michigan.
Operation Good Cheer is a program of Child and Family Services of Michigan, Inc.
This annual, volunteer based Christmas gift-giving program for children in foster care will once again be launching “Spirit of Good Cheer” flights and ground distribution on December 7, 2019 from Oakland County International Airport to deliver more than 21,477 gifts to 7,159 children across the state of Michigan.
Through this program, foster children throughout Michigan will know that people care about them and are thinking about them this Christmas.
The children who participate in Operation Good Cheer are victims of abuse, neglect, and abandonment. Through their foster care agencies, each child in the program creates a “Wish List” with six gift ideas they would like for Christmas. Child and Family Services of Michigan, Inc., distributes their lists to hundreds of individual and group donors who purchase and wrap the gifts specially chosen for each individual child. Every child and youth participating in the program receives at least three gifts, including items such as toys, books, clothing, bikes, and electronics.
The gifts are then taken to drop off locations to await transportation to Oakland County International Airport in Waterford.
On Friday, December 6, 2019, the gifts will be collected from 31 “pick-up” locations via donated ground transportation where they will continue their journey to the Oakland County International Airport via donated ground transportation.
The hangar, graciously provided by Pentastar Aviation, will have hundreds of enthusiastic volunteers on-hand at the Oakland County International Airport throughout the two-day period to assist with sorting and loading more than 21,408 gifts for distribution to infants, children, and youths across the state of Michigan.
All distribution flights and local ground transport will depart from Oakland County International Airport on Saturday, December 7, 2019. The “Spirit of Good Cheers” flights are coordinated with Oakland County International Airport, air traffic controllers from several airports, and ground transportation (coordinated by Mike Pipia and many others).
Hundreds of dedicated volunteer pilots will fly their own aircraft, which will be filled to capacity with Christmas gifts to 29 airports throughout Michigan. Also, supplemental ground transport will take place for local destinations. Pilots and drivers will be greeted by staff and volunteers from the local participating social service agencies. They will then transfer the gifts for final distribution, ensuring more than 7,159 children and youth served by the agencies and sponsored by Operation Good Cheer will receive their gifts in time for Christmas.
“This program would not be possible without the thousands of dedicated and committed volunteer and local partners helping others in their time of need and showing that they care. This is what the spirit of Christmas is about. People caring for and helping,” noted Sherry Brackenwagen, Administrative Director of Child and Family Services of Michigan, Inc. “This spirit‟ is what brings happiness and hope to thousands of Michigan’s foster care children every holiday season.”
“We are extremely grateful” she added, “to have such dedicated, longtime supporters by our side. Supporters like Pentastar Aviation, the staff at Oakland County International Airport, and air traffic controllers from all airports who do an exceptional job of organizing the flights, along with the outstanding work of Mike Pipia and many others in coordinating all of the ground transportation.”
Various Related 2019 Operation Good Cheer Data and Statistics Operation Good Cheer is a program of Child and Family Services of Michigan, Inc. State Office (CFSM) in Okemos. CFSM has sponsored and coordinated this volunteer-driven program since its inception in 1971.
This year, more than 250 separate donor groups and individuals are participating as gift sponsors. Donors include individuals, families, employer groups, public schools and universities, and community service organizations.
Thirty-one trucking will companies donate transportation services, including trucks and fuel. Numerous drivers donate their time to transport gifts to the Oakland County International Airport from 31 “pick-up” locations, in addition to outbound transport from the airport to local destinations.
A collaboration of pilots, also utilizing their aircraft and fuel, will make delivery flights throughout the day to 29 airport destinations, with many making several trips.
Aircraft and flights are coordinated by air traffic controllers and a team of pilots and long-time supporters. Ground transportation is coordinated by Mike Pipia of Guardian Industries.
Local social service agencies taking part in Operation Good Cheer include: Child and Family Services of Michigan, Inc. and their member agencies: Child and Family Services of the Upper Peninsula (Marquette); Marquette/Alger/Schoolcraft County Department
of Health and Human Services (Marquette); Teaching Family Homes of Upper Michigan (Marquette); UP Kids (Houghton); Upper Peninsula Family Solutions (Negaunee).
Airports and respective receiving areas include: Sawyer International-Boreal Aviation.
