The holidays are a happy time for many families, but for others, they have to choose putting food on the table over putting presents under the tree. That's where the Desert Veterans of Wisconsin step in. The Green Bay based group started their Adopt-A-Family program five years ago.
"We helped out a veteran who unfortunately lost a lot of things in a house fire, and we had a great response," explained event organizer Mark Bonovetz.
This year, they chose nine military families to submit their wish lists.
"I want a pair of pajamas that don't have holes in them," Bonovetz remembers one child writing. "And that's when it starts tugging at your heart strings, where it's like you know some of the things that we take for granted on a daily basis are things they're looking for for Christmas."
The veterans also deliver donated Christmas trees and the reactions are priceless.
"She opened the door. She saw the tree. She gave us a big, huge hug," explained chapter President Andy Bussiere.
It's what inspires him to keep giving year after year. He knows soldiers returning home face problems finding jobs and issues with PTSD that affect the whole family emotionally and financially.
"They're in Afghanistan. They're in Iraq. They're seeing things that we don't see over here on an everyday basis, and to try to get their mindset back into the civilian world is not an easy task."
So Monday night, Bussiere, his wife and two young daughters searched the aisles of ShopKo to find the perfect presents for a family they've never met.
"They will be really happy and appreciate it," said Bussiere's daughter, Lacey.
They filled their cart with toys, dolls and favorite books. These secret Santas hope it will help their Adopt-A-Family forget their troubles, at least for a little.
"It feels really good to help people out and make them happy," said Bussiere's oldest daughter, Lana.
For them, the Christmas gifts are a special way to say thank you for their service, at a time when so many veteran families could really use it.
Organizers say many of the donations to the Adopt-A-Family program come from civilians and everyone involved can remain anonymous.
