He grew up receiving Christmas drops. Then he helped deliver them. — Transcript

Bennett narration is AI-generated; the attributed interview is original source audio.

I'm Bennett Blackwood.

He grew up waiting for supplies

to fall from the sky. Now,

he's helping send them! Eugene Halishlius

is from Woleai and Satawal in

the Pacific. As a child, he

received deliveries from Operation Christmas Drop.

In December twenty twenty-five, the Coast

Guard member joined the operation from

Guam. This time, he was on

the giving side. Volunteers packed useful

supplies into bundles. Air crews carried

them out to remote island communities.

For Eugene, it was a full-circle

moment.

I got excited because I was like,

I'm going to be part of this,

but I'll be on the other end of it.

The twenty twenty-five operation ended on

December fourteenth. The Air Force's wrap-up

reports around two hundred seventy bundles,

with essential goods for about fifty-six

thousand people across fifty-nine islands. Food,

tools, fishing gear and school supplies.

Practical help, delivered across an enormous

ocean. And for one islander who

once received that kindness, a chance

to pass it on.

Seize the day. Share the good.

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