Airplanes, tractor trailers and hundreds of volunteers are on standby this week as Child and Family Charities’ Operation Good Cheer kicks into high gear.

Currently celebrating its 55th year, Operation Good Cheer provides seasonal comfort and joy to children in Michigan’s foster care system through thoughtful, personalized gift deliveries. Each year, program administrators collaborate with foster care agencies to collect holiday wish lists of up to six gift ideas from participating children across the state. Generous sponsors then select one or more children for the holiday season, purchasing three items for each including toys, books, winter clothing, bicycles and electronics.

This Friday (12/5), gifts that have been collected at 15 designated locations will be transported to the Oakland County International Airport in Waterford Township. At this convenient hub, in a hangar donated by Pentastar Aviation, more than 800 volunteers will sort and load nearly 19,000 gifts into trucks and aircraft for statewide distribution to more than 6,200 children in the stewardship of 89 social service agencies across the state.

Distribution is set for Saturday (12/6).  More than 180 volunteer pilots are making deliveries to 35 airports dotting Michigan’s Upper and Lower Peninsulas, with their efforts supplemented by volunteer truck drivers.

“Many of the children participating in Operation Good Cheer have never received Christmas gifts before in their lives. This is an opportunity to show these children that someone in the world cares about them and their particular wishes and needs,” said Operation Good Cheer Program Manager Emmanuel Boateng. “It gives them a sense of agency and belonging that reverberates well beyond the holiday season.

“We want to thank the thousands of dedicated, long-time volunteers who donate gifts, trucks, aircraft and countless hours to pull off this unique Christmas caper for the last 55 years,” Boateng said. “This program would not be possible without you.”

To learn more about Operation Good Cheer, visit www.childandfamily.org/operation-good-cheer.