The uniform for bringing Christmas presents and cheer won’t be just red with white trim, but camo and military dress.
Area children in need will be paired up with local soldiers for a Christmas shopping trip courtesy of the Tooele Fraternal Order of Eagles at its fifth annual Shop with a Soldier program on Dec. 12.
Barbara Denner joined with the Utah National Guard in Tooele to establish Shop with a Soldier in Tooele County back in 2011. In its first year, the program helped 28 children and it has continued to grow, with 40 children participating last year, she said.
Each child is given $100 for Christmas shopping at the Tooele Wal-Mart and paired with an active service member living or serving in Tooele County and surrounding areas. Denner said the Utah National Guard, Dugway Proving Ground, Camp Williams in Riverton and the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps from Stansbury and Grantsville have all participated in the past.
“The soldiers are the backbone of this,” Denner said.
The children and soldiers are first paired off and get to know each other at the Utah National Guard Armory on Vine Street. After their parents drive the children down to Wal-Mart, they reunite with the soldier, and then spend an hour shopping for presents.
After checking out, the soldier and child head to the wrapping counter to get the presents ready to be placed under the tree, Denner said. With the gifts ready to go, everyone heads back to the Eagles Lodge at 50 S. 1st Street for a Christmas party.
Party-goers will play games and do crafts. Hot dogs and drinks will be served, and Santa Claus will pay a visit. One year, Santa wasn’t able to make it and a sergeant in the Utah National Guard filled the role, with help from a fellow soldier elf, Denner said.
Fundraising efforts throughout the year help fund the FOE’s Shop with a Soldier, along with some holiday events next month. The FOE will raffle off a six-foot-long stocking full of Christmas presents, as well as auction themed holiday stockings on Dec. 4 at the Eagles Lodge. All proceeds will go toward the Shop with a Soldier program.
The Eagles usually look within their membership’s social media, family, friends and neighbors to find children that are in danger of not having Christmas gifts without a little extra help, Denner said. With programs like law enforcement’s Shop with a Cop, the Eagles make an extra effort to help families not receiving other types of assistance, she said.
When the holidays come around, Denner said Shop with a Soldier is something that she’s proud of and enjoys each year.
“It’s quite a fun event,” she said.
Donations by check for Shop with a Soldier can be made payable to the Fraternal Order of Eagles with the name of the program on the memo line.