Sam Paul, left, of Jackson Center, hands a tree down to Office Manager/Executive Administrative Assistant to CEO and VP at Airstream Christine Roettger McKenzie, of Sidney, in front of Shelby County Job and Family Services. McKenzie delivered six trees along with presents and frozen turkeys. The trees were decorated by Airstream associates. Airstream donated nine more trees to various local homes.
Luke Gronneberg | Sidney Daily News
Shelby County Job and Family Services Intake Supervisor Amber McCullough, left, and Sam Paul, of Jackson Center, transport Christmas trees into the Shelby County Job and Family Services building. Airstream donated the trees which were decorated by Airstream associates.
Luke Gronneberg | Sidney Daily News
Breann Trout, left, picks up a tree from the Sidney/Shelby County Salvation Army with help from Secretary, Sharon Ross, both of Sidney. Honda donated the trees to The Salvation Army for distribution. The trees were decorated with different themes by Honda employees. The decorations were put in bins and the trees back into their boxes to make it easier for transportation.
Luke Gronneberg | Sidney Daily News
Honda employees Ben Ernst, left, and Shannon Roberts, of Jackson Center, carry tubs of Christmas tree decorations into Agape. The decorations went along with four artificial trees donated by Honda to Agape.
Luke Gronneberg | Sidney Daily News
Honda employee Rob Blankenship, left, and Sidney Community Resource Officer Bryce Stewart carry tubs of Christmas tree decorations up to Agape. The decorations went along with four artificial trees donated by Honda to Agape.
Luke Gronneberg | Sidney Daily News
By Charlotte Caldwell
SIDNEY — Airstream and Honda each donated Christmas trees decorated by their employees to local organizations that give to those in need.
Airstream dubbed the donations Operation Christmas Tree, “a heartwarming initiative meant to bring joy and holiday magic to local families in need,” according to a press release.
This year, the company purchased 16 6.5-foot Christmas trees and enlisted dozens of Airstream associates to help decorate the trees — and tuck a variety of presents under each one. The associates formed teams, and Airstream provided each team with $50 for decorations or gifts, but most teams went above and beyond by purchasing additional gifts and gift cards for the families. The result was a dazzling array of themed trees that reflected the unique personalities and preferences of the families they sponsored.
“The teams went above and beyond expectations,” said organizer Christine McKenzie in a press release, Airstream’s office manager and executive administrative assistant to the president and CEO. “They really transformed these trees with the magic of the season, and their efforts were much appreciated across Shelby County.”
The festive culmination of Operation Christmas Tree took place in the lobby of Airstream’s headquarters in Jackson Center during the company’s annual Christmas breakfast. The event brings together Airstream’s nearly 1,700 associates and their families for a pancake breakfast on the production floor, complete with a singing Elvis, visits from Santa, and numerous activities for kids.
During the Christmas breakfast, associates and their families voted for their favorite trees, which were on display around the lobby. Themes ranged from Barbie and Lego to “Meowy Christmas” and Movie Night. Traditional favorites such as Candy Land and festive characters like Elf on the Shelf, Mario Brothers, Mickey and Minnie Mouse, and even a unique blend of half Barbie and half Spider-Man added to the festive spectacle. The top three winning teams were celebrated for their creativity and dedication to the task.
McKenzie, Airstream Material Handler and Driver Sam Paul, and other volunteers then began delivering the 16 trees. Six trees and their accompanying gifts went to Shelby County Job and Family Services, while nine trees and gifts were distributed to families identified by Longfellow Elementary School and Emerson Elementary School. The remaining tree was gifted to a local Jackson Center family.
Not content with simply providing gifts to the families, Airstream ensured that the holiday feast would be complete by gifting a turkey to each of the families. And the program generated so many gifts that three additional families in Jackson Center received gifts and turkeys.
”It means the world to these families at this time of year,” said McKenzie in a press release. “And all the credit to our associates for stepping up and delivering Christmas magic to families who need it the most.”
The Honda Anna Engine Plant delivered 25 trees to the Salvation Army and Honda Maintenance Repair Operations Department associates in Bellefontaine donated four trees to Agape Distribution.
According to Chris Abbruzzese, North American Corporate Communications at Honda, all manufacturing sites and their maintenance repair operations departments in the U.S. participated. Honda’s trees were also 6.5 feet tall and Anna and Bellefontaine’s themes included peppermint, Barbie, safety, racing, dinosaurs, Mario Kart, and Winter Wonderland. Each member of the winning trees received a $25 gift card. Honda has been doing a Christmas tree decorating event for the last two years.
Honda’s Bellefontaine department contacted Sidney Community Resource Officer Bryce Stewart for ideas on where to donate their trees, and Stewart chose Agape.
“Pre-COVID, I was here every Monday, and I came almost every Saturday with my kids. I just love what they do for the community. I love what they do for people in general. Somebody can come in and may not be signed up with them, and need food, and they’re like, ‘we’re not going to make a habit of it but we’re going to help you,’” Stewart said about Agape. “Growing up, I lived in an environment kind of like that. Seeing the little kids come in and stuff like that, it just touched my heart. So if I can ever give to them in any way, whether it’s through the police department or whatever, I absolutely do because I just love what Agape does for the community. And it’s not just the community, it stretches for counties.”
