COLUMBUS, Miss. (WTVA) - The annual "Happy Wrap" at Columbus Air Force Base is a day when gifts are wrapped for underprivileged children.
Necessary items like clothing and school supplies are bought with donations to the "Happy Fund."
The fund was started by the late George "Happy" Irby, who was a longtime base employee.
Irby used tip money earned at the Columbus Club to buy items for area children.
Now, his son is on hand to help continue what his father started.
George Irby said, "He wanted, in my opinion, for people to know it's always better to give. You then feel good when you help someone and see a smile on someone's face, especially an elderly person or a child."
One volunteer we talked to worked with "Happy" for years at the base and says she's glad to help continue what he started years ago.
Volunteer Ruby Anderson said, "These are basic necessities like clothing that they need this time of year. We don't worry about the toys because they get those all the time. We're so happy to be a part of this every year."
The children who receive the gifts were nominated by teachers at their school.
More than two dozen volunteers went to buy the gifts and around forty took part in Thursday's wrapping.
Volunteer Candice Haffner said, "Everyone here is a volunteer from the base. We have spouses, children, active duty. Anybody who was interested and had the time to come. There's also people from the Happy Wrap Foundation helping to wrap too, and the family."
More than 300 children in Columbus and Lowndes County will receive the gifts this Christmas.
