Santa Flies to Vernal Utah, Wednesday, December 11, 2024
What: Angel Flight West pilots bring Christmas to 500 kids in Vernal
On December 11 at 8:30 a.m., 25 volunteer pilots from Angel Flight West’s (AFW) Utah wing will depart from various UT airports on their annual Santa Flight. Their destination is the airport in Vernal, UT, where they will deliver donated toys, school supplies, books, backpacks, and clothing to the 500 children at Ashley Elementary School.
Angel Flight West pilots and various community groups throughout Utah have gathered donated school supplies, winter coats, books and toys based on the needs of the school. Mountain America Credit Union and Bank of Utah both gave generous donations to help stock the planes. Additionally, KUED (PBS Utah) will be providing over 600 books through its “Ready to Learn” program, encouraging literacy and other key family development programs.
School children will be bused to the airport and await Santa, Mrs. Claus, and the elves in the Hangar. Once Santa arrives, there will be a short assembly, hosted by Principal Tawna Baumgardner. Kids will serenade the pilots with holiday songs and Lou Rossi, AFW Utah Wing Leader, will present the donations to the school.
Since the first Santa Flight in 2000, members of the Utah Wing have worked with their local communities to gather needed supplies & toys and deliver them to Title One Schools in rural communities throughout Utah. Santa Flight coordinators include AFW UT Wing Leader Lou Rossi and AFW Outreach Coordinators Phil Titus and Joanne Brattain. Rossi says, “We are very grateful for the generosity of our pilots and the community groups who have raised money and gathered donations so that even during this tough economic time, we can bring some holiday cheer to these kids.”
As with every Angel Flight West mission, the pilots donate their time, talent, airplanes, fuel, and operating expenses.
