Airmen embrace holiday spirit with H.U.G.S.S.

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Alessandra N. Hurley
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. --  "Gifts like these coming from the base tell the guys the Christmas spirit is still alive despite hard times and, even more importantly, it tells them they still have value and their brothers and sisters in uniform care about them," said Retired Master Sgt. Jim Goodrich.

Mr. Goodrich is the Rapid City Cornerstone Rescue Mission's Department of Veterans Affairs coordinator, and works together with the Ellsworth Top Three to generate Operation H.U.G.S.S., a program where Airmen can donate much-needed clothing items to Rapid City's homeless American veterans, Dec. 23.

"Taking off the uniform does not remove us from the military family," Mr. Goodrich said. "The vets still belong to the military community, and many of them don't have a feeling of belonging anywhere else. I spent my last years in the Air Force as a first sergeant, retiring in 2004 from the 318th Recruiting Squadron in New Cumberland, Pa. It's a great honor for me to work with these men and women who have served our country honorably, but have fallen on hard times for whatever reason."

Operation H.U.G.S.S., (Hats, Undergarments, Gloves, Socks and Scarves) represents the items that have consistently been the most essential to veterans at the mission throughout the six years Mr. Goodrich has been the VA coordinator there, he said.

"Most vets coming in simply don't have the means to purchase these items and oftentimes go without them," Mr. Goodrich said. "Men and women show up with one set of clothes and without a jacket, boots or gloves. Many don't even own underwear."

Mr. Goodrich said the program is important to Rapid City's homeless veterans because it allows them to stay warm as they strive to make a living.

"Most of Rapid City's homeless veterans who are able to work during the winter months, find employment as day laborers outdoors. Many times they cannot accept the work they need so badly due to wardrobe limitations," he said. "Operation H.U.G.S.S. provides them with a supply of desperately needed essential items to keep them warm in the winter such as gloves, warm jackets and long underwear, things most of us take for granted."

Mr. Goodrich said the items he nearly always needs and frequently runs out of are socks, underwear, T-shirts and boots.

He added that he is grateful for the support the mission receives from Ellsworth's Top Three, and from all of the Airmen who donate items to Operation H.U.G.S.S. as a way of helping their fellow servicemembers.

"Their donations are heartwarming and go a long way to remind these men and women that they may be on hard times, but they are not forgotten," Mr. Goodrich said.

Master Sgt. Charles Stansbury, 28th Bomb Wing treaty compliance officer, is the Ellsworth Top Three's Operation H.U.G.S.S. point of contact for the Bomb Wing staff. The Ellsworth Top Three has played a part in the program's success for approximately five years.

The Top Three is comprised of dues-paying members from around the base who hold the ranks of master sergeant, senior master sergeant or chief master sergeant. Sergeant Stansbury said the organization is comprised of approximately 135 members and receives funding from ordinary fundraising activities in the local community and from various donors around the base.

The Top Three is responsible for packaging all items collected from Operation H.U.G.S.S. donation boxes, placed near the entrance ways of several commonly used facilities around the base, including the Base Exchange and Rushmore Center. Members of the Top Three place the clothes into backpacks and gift wrap them. These gift packages are delivered to veterans at the Cornerstone Rescue Mission on Christmas or Christmas Eve.

"Since one in four homeless people are veterans, the Ellsworth community is trying to do their part and give back whenever they can to support those who have paved the way for us," Sergeant Stansbury said. "Airmen who donate get back the satisfaction of knowing they are helping less fortunate individuals who have served before them."

Mr. Goodrich requested that people only provide new or unused items, for hygiene reasons, if not as a matter of principle.

Editor's Note: To read the personal story of a homeless veteran, click here.