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Operation Good Cheer flying high across Michigan making holiday memories for children in foster care

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Dec. 6, 2018                                  

CONTACT: Bob Wheaton, 517-241-2112                                                                                      

LANSING, Mich. – Children in foster care around Michigan will be granted holiday wishes through the annual Operation Good Cheer program, which will transport gifts via air and ground transportation on Friday, Dec. 7, and Saturday, Dec. 8.

Eighty-two social services agencies, including numerous Michigan Department of Health and Human Services offices, are participating in the annual Christmas-gift-giving program coordinated by Child and Family Services of Michigan that began in 1971.

All distribution flights and local ground transport will originate from Oakland County International Airport, where more than 20,000 gifts will be gathered for sorting and loading at the host hangar, provided by Pentastar Aviation. Hundreds of volunteers will be on hand at the airport throughout the two-day period to assist with the distribution effort.

Through the “Spirit of Good Cheer” flight, participating local social service agencies will greet flights at 29 airports and various ground destinations where they will transfer the gifts for final distribution to children served by the agencies, in time for Christmas. More than 6,771 youth sponsored by Operation Good Cheer this year will receive their gifts.

Participating MDHHS offices include Alcona, Alpena, Arenac, Bay, Benzie, Berrien, Branch, Cass, Clare, Clinton, Eaton, Gladwin, Grand Traverse, Gratiot, Hillsdale, Huron, Ionia, Isabella, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Lake, Kalkaska, Leelanau, Lenawee, Livingston, Manistee, Mason, Mecosta, Missaukee, Montcalm, Montmorency, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana, Ogemaw, Osceola, Roscommon, Saginaw, Shiawassee, Tuscola, Van Buren and Wexford.

For more information about Operation Good Cheer or how to get involved, contact Child and Family Services of Michigan, Inc. at 517-349-6226 or www.cfsm.org.

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