COVID-19 Limits ‘Operation Santa Claus’ in Alaska

COVID-19 is changing the way Americans plan to celebrate the winter holidays this year. But, in Alaska, the National Guard found a way to carry out a beloved Christmas tradition for several distant Native American communities.

An Alaska National Guard helicopter recently landed on a frozen¹ field in Stevens Village, home to about 30 people. Townspeople hurried to the landing field after seeing the helicopter land. They watched as the soldiers unloaded boxes containing gifts for almost everyone in the community.

Then the helicopter flew away.

The yearly National Guard gift transport known as "Operation Santa Claus," began in 1956. This year, the operation required some new safety measures.

"For 65 years we have not missed a beat," said Chief Winfield Hinkley, Jr., the Command Senior Enlisted² Leader of the Alaska National Guard. He admitted that COVID-19 presented difficulty for Operation Santa Claus. But, he added, "it will not stop us from carrying out this tradition. It is an honor to do it."

In 1956, the remote Alaskan village of St. Mary's suffered periods of severe flooding and severe dryness. The townspeople faced a hard choice in the Christmas season: whether to provide food for St. Mary's or gifts for its children.

The town chose food.

Then, the Alaska Air National Guard stepped in. The service brought donated gifts and supplies to the community.

Since then, the program has grown. In 1969, The Salvation³ Army became a partner in providing playthings and more to children across rural Alaska.

Each year, Operation Santa Claus attempts to get gifts to two or three villages that are chosen for different reasons. One village might have had a special hardship during the year. Another might have high poverty levels.

Operation Santa Claus has provided for more than 90 villages since its beginning in St. Mary's. Stevens Village and two others, Birch Creek⁴ and Nanwalek, were chosen this year for the first time.

Volunteers packed playthings, backpacks, warm hats, teeth cleaning supplies and books for 127 children.

In a normal year, the arrival of Operation Santa Claus is a community event. People dress as the holiday characters Santa and Mrs. Claus, and their helpers. They celebrate with a party held at the local school building. All the townspeople are invited to have their photos taken with Santa and eat sweet treats. Gifts are handed out to children.

But this year, COVID-19 safety rules required that the gifts be left at the landing field.

Stevens Village First Chief David Kriska said having the National Guard choose the town was cheering.

"It was great because just being so locked down and with travel, you know, so out of touch with the outside world."

However, Kriska wishes it could have been the full experience, including having his own children enjoy a visit with Santa.

He said, "It would have been great for my kids to interact⁵ with them because they're needing that social interaction. I would have loved to have that picture with my daughters."

Words in This Story

backpacks – n. bags for carrying things that has two shoulder straps⁶ and is carried on the back

character – n. the personality or part which an actor recreates; a person in a story or play

interact – v. to talk or do things with other people

kids – n. children

1 frozen   

adj.冻结的，冰冻的

参考例句：

• He was frozen to death on a snowing night.在一个风雪的晚上，他被冻死了。
• The weather is cold and the ground is frozen.天寒地冻。

2 enlisted   

adj.应募入伍的v.（使）入伍， （使）参军( enlist的过去式和过去分词 )；获得（帮助或支持）

参考例句：

• enlisted men and women 男兵和女兵
• He enlisted with the air force to fight against the enemy. 他应募加入空军对敌作战。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

3 salvation   

n.（尤指基督）救世，超度，拯救，解困

参考例句：

• Salvation lay in political reform.解救办法在于政治改革。
• Christians hope and pray for salvation.基督教徒希望并祈祷灵魂得救。

4 creek   

n.小溪，小河，小湾

参考例句：

• He sprang through the creek.他跳过小河。
• People sunbathe in the nude on the rocks above the creek.人们在露出小溪的岩石上裸体晒日光浴。

5 interact   

vi.相互作用，相互影响，互通信息

参考例句：

• All things are interrelated and interact on each other.一切事物互相联系并相互作用。
• The policeman advised the criminal to interact with the police.警察劝罪犯与警方合作。

6 straps   

n.带子( strap的名词复数 )；挎带；肩带；背带v.用皮带捆扎( strap的第三人称单数 )；用皮带抽打；包扎；给…打绷带

参考例句：

• the shoulder straps of her dress 她连衣裙上的肩带
• The straps can be adjusted to suit the wearer. 这些背带可进行调整以适合使用者。