388th, 419th deliver gifts to foster families

  • Published
  • By Mary Lou Gorny
  • Hilltop Times editor
HILL AIR FORCE BASE --  Personnel from the 419th and 388th Fighter Wings contributed their personal time, vehicles, gasoline and efforts Dec. 15 in making sure gifts made it in time for Christmas to 310 foster children in Northern Utah. Approximately 75 Airmen delivered holiday gifts from the Idaho border to Draper and west to Tooele in coordination with the Utah Foster Care Foundation.

At the home of Kathy Torres, holiday stockings were all over the place -- on the mantel and taped to the walls -- for some of the kids the family has fostered in the past, for the six she's adopted or raising and for the two foster children in her family's care.

Hugs, a plate of goodies and smiles all around greeted Master Sgt. Drue Titensor, 419th Aircraft Structural Maintenance Supervisor, and his wingman, Tech. Sgt. Luis Drollette, 419th Maintenance Squadron, as they delivered gifts including a guitar, Lite Brite and motorized monster truck.

As Titensor joked about the difficulty of opening the plastic around the monster truck, another child strummed the guitar. "We'll have to get you a pick for that, honey," Torres said, adding it was probably taped in the box somewhere, and they'd make sure he'd get one later if they couldn't find it.

Cinnamon rolls fresh from the oven were passed around with cookies for all those assembled in the modest living room warmly decorated with a Christmas tree, the stockings and filled with laughter, helping hands.

Torres explained why there were so many stockings, more than the number of children present: "We try to keep in touch with the families and the children that we've had."

The master sergeant delivered extra batteries to the delighted squeals of some of the kids and showed the hidden switch on the motorized truck that made it run quietly.

"That's good," said Torres, laughing. "That's a good thing."

She said she enjoys being a foster mom, explaining: "It's just rewarding seeing these children (while) people just have problems in their lives and with the economy the way it is now -- lots of people just get in situations where they do stupid stuff with their money and things. They make bad choices in their lives and they just need a break. They need someone to help them.

"If we can love the children and keep them safe and happy then it's going to help (the parents) so they can relax and move on through the services that are required of them to do," Torres added.

She said that she incorporates the parents as much as possible any time she has a question about the kids and that it helps the time go by faster for the kids when they see the acceptance between her and the parents.

"We had 'Mom' and 'Dad' help out with what they thought that they would like," she said of the process of selecting gifts for the two foster kids.

Her oldest son, Austin, said he hopes he will be a good father some day.

"All my kids can change diapers and cook -- and you name it," Torres said. "We definitely work as a team when there are this many."

Before arriving at the home, Brenda Durtschi, Area Representative for the Northern Region, and Kristie Loock, Retention Services Specialist, both with the Utah Foster Care Foundation, praised all the work done by the foster families and commented on just how much help it is to have the Airmen involved in the delivery.

Durtschi explained, "Our families get excited about having the military come and it's just something extra."

Senior Master Sgt. Trey Munn, 388th Accessories Flight Chief, said they had no trouble getting volunteers for the delivery this year.

Titensor said much the same thing, adding, "Anytime you can do things to help a kid, it's a good thing."

"This is my third year. This experience has been awesome," the 419th master sergeant said. "Last year we had the opportunity to go anywhere from real fancy homes to real humble homes and the attitude's the same -- these people are doing great work. They love the kids -- they're just doing fantastic work."

Munn added his own reaction, "It's outstanding. I can't even put it into words. Last year several of the kids were home when we took things and stopped and dropped them off -- it's just really awesome."

Last minute placements of children will occur during the holidays so the foundation is still accepting gift cards and cash donations. To contribute, by calling (877) 505-5437.