Air Force 'Santa Brigade' delivers Christmas to 220 foster care kids

SALT LAKE CITY — Airmen in uniform became the "Santa Brigade" on Thursday, helping deliver gifts to 220 foster care children along the Wasatch Front.

Some of the kids who got a visit had a heads-up that uniformed visitors would be coming to their houses.

"They were so excited," said Michelle, the mother of three boys she and her husband adopted after caring for them as foster parents. "They couldn't wait to get home from school today. They couldn't wait."

This is the fifth year that airmen from Hill Air Force Base's 419th and 388th fighter wings have delivered the gifts, which are all donated by individuals, businesses and community groups to the Utah Foster Care Foundation's Giving Tree program.

"Some of these children have been recently placed in foster homes, and Christmas can be really difficult for them," said foundation spokeswoman Deborah Lindner. "It's really important that they have gifts to let them know that people think about them."

More airmen from Hill's two F-16 fighter wings participated this year than ever.

"It's become a really popular thing for them. We had 40 in the Salt Lake area and 40 more in Ogden," Lindner said. "When the military comes to your door and delivers gifts, it makes you feel really important. These foster families are pretty dedicated, and they give up a lot to take care of these kids in foster care."

There are more than 2,600 children in foster care in Utah in about 1,400 foster-family homes, Lindner said. Anyone wanting to donate can call 877-505-5437 or send email to nikki.mackay@utahfostercare.org.

E-mail: sfidel@desnews.com, Twitter: SteveFidel