For the past 51 years, Operation Kids Christmas (OKC) at Vandenberg Air Force Base has provided more than a thousand underprivileged children a special time during the winter holidays.
The event recently inspired Lockheed Martin Information Systems & Global Services-Defense employees in Santa Maria and Vandenberg to present a $14,533 check to the current Air Force president for OKC, Lt. Col. Gary Jenkins II.
The check is a result of various fundraising efforts held by Lockheed Martin throughout the year, including basket raffles, salad bar lunch days, ice cream socials, and other activities. Lockheed Martin has continuously donated funds to OKC since 1996.
Karen Miller-Tunnell, contract administrator for Lockheed Martin, said not only is the Lockheed Martin team helping its customer, the base, but the company is also contributing to its community with the donation.
“Every year it’s an honor to serve and participate [with OKC],” Miller-Tunnell said. “We move toward making it better for them.”
Jenkins expressed his gratitude for the donation by giving a plaque of appreciation to the entire Lockheed Martin IS&GS-Defense team.
For OKC, around 200 children from Santa Maria, Lompoc, Guadalupe, and Santa Ynez Valley gather at the base for a day of entertainment and gift giving. Air Force personnel escort them around the base, and at the end of the day, Santa Claus hands each child a bag of seven to 10 toys, a backpack, and gift certificates to use for clothing. The children’s families also receive a special gift—a food basket with items essential for preparing a traditional holiday dinner.
Mike Petlansky, a former employee of the Air Force Logistics Command test site office, started OKC in 1959. Today, Vandenberg’s 30th Space Wing sponsors the event.
“It’s a real rich and moving experience,” Miller-Tunnell said.
Intern Sarah Parr compiled this week’s Community Corner. Send comments or ideas to the Sun via e-mail at intern@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Apr 7-14, 2011.
