(CEDAR CITY , Utah) — On Dec. 9 at 8:00 a.m., 15 volunteer pilots of the Utah Wing of Angel Flight West will depart South Valley Regional Airport on their annual Santa Flight. Their destination is Cedar City, Utah, where they will deliver toys, school supplies, books, backpacks and warm clothing to the nearly 600 children at Three Peaks Elementary in nearby Enoch.
Cedar area Eagle Scout Candidate Jacob Lindstrom of Troop 379 has used this as his Eagle Scout Service Project. He has gathered donated school supplies, clothing and toys according to the needs of the school.
Eagle Scout Candidates from the Salt Lake area (Connor Chytraus, Trevor Jones, Simon Kahle, Will Koelliker, Cole Larsen, Sam Larsen, Carter Pollan, Christian Simonsen, Payton Taylor, Alex Vance) have gathered donations as well and will arrive on the planes.
When the planes land, they will be greeted by volunteers from the Three Peaks PTA and Angel Flight West. Santa, Mrs. Claus and two elves will arrive in a plane versus a sleigh. Members of the Triple Deuce National Guard will unload the planes and transport the donations to the school. Sphere One Aviation will provide snacks, hot chocolate and a fuel discount for the pilots.
The students at Three Peaks Elementary will greet Santa, Mrs. Claus, the elves and pilots at an assembly at the school with a choir concert and lots of hugs.
Since the first Santa Flight in 2000, the members of the Utah Wing have worked with their local communities to gather needed supplies & toys and deliver them to rural communities throughout Utah. Steve Bollinger, AFW UT Wing Leader, Phil Titus and Joanne Brattain, Outreach Coordinators, and the scouts, have worked on this project since September. According to Bollinger, the partnership between AFW and the Scouts has been critical in the success of this project.
As with every Angel Flight mission, the pilots donate their time, talent, airplanes, fuel and operating expenses.
Founded in 1983, Angel Flight West is a nonprofit, volunteer-driven organization that arranges free, non-emergency air transportation in response to health care and other compelling human needs. The Utah Wing has 62 pilots and flies 100+ missions a year within and through Utah. HYPERLINK “http://www.angelflightwest.org” www.angelflightwest.org . HYPERLINK “http://www.facebook.com/angelflightwest” www.facebook.com/angelflightwest #
Date of Dec. 9 is weather dependent. Alternate dates are Dec. 11 and Dec. 16.
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