Operation North Las Vegas GI Family Christmas began only months after the North Las Vegas Veterans and Community Resource Center was built in 2022. Jimmy Vega a Local Realtor®, retired Navy Chief Petty Officer, and Commissioner on the North Las Vegas Veterans Community Commission brought his vision, passion, and years of experience in bringing the Christmas spirit to Veterans and Active-Duty personnel in need to North Las Vegas. Councilman Cherchio’s dedication to the Veteran community parallel Jimmy’s passion and together they created this heartwarming event.
The process begins with nominations of Veterans and Active-Duty families who reside in North Las Vegas, or Nellis AFB and Creech AFB who are going through financial hardships. They are then vetted and selected. After the selection process heart felt families, individuals, and business request to sponsor these military/veteran families. These sponsors are introduced to the families to understand their wishes and needs especially for their children. After this the sponsors shop for their perspective families.
North Las Vegas GI Family Christmas is a three-day evolution. Beginning on December 22nd all unwrapped gifts for each of the families are brought to the North Las Vegas Veterans and Community Resource Center. On December 23rd is the wrapping party. This is the day people from the community, city employees, and members of LVR (Las Vegas Realtors®) spend many hours wrapping the gifts and separating each family to load on the bus the next day. On December 24th Christmas Eve day, everyone involved meets at the Veterans Resource Center at 9am. A charter bus arrives and the gifts dedicated to each family are loaded underneath, and all sponsors and volunteers board the bus. At 10am the bus departs to Nellis AFB and to the homes of these active military and veteran families to deliver Christmas.
Operation North Las Vegas GI Family Christmas and the dedication of individuals like Jimmy Vega and Councilman Richard Cherchio in bringing the Christmas spirit to veterans and active-duty personnel in need along with the effort to vet and select families, and with the involvement of sponsors who shop for their needs truly makes this a community-driven initiative.
The three-day evolution of the event, culminating in the delivery of gifts on Christmas Eve, demonstrates the commitment and organization behind making the holidays special for these families.
If you’re interested in being part of this wonderful event, you can submit your email address to receive further information or possibly volunteer your time and resources. It’s a great opportunity to spread joy and support those who have served their country.
