A ‘Happy’ Christmas

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – For hundreds of local children, this Christmas will be a happy one.

Volunteers from the Columbus Air Force base and the community are participating in the annual “shop and wrap” for the “Happy Christmas Fund.”

The charity was started by George “Happy” Irby, a 50-year employee of the Columbus Air Force Base, in 1958.

He wanted to make sure less fortunate children got toys, school supplies, and other necessities for Christmas each year.

Thanks to base personnel, Happy’s legacy lives on.

“He was a man who was selfless in his giving and his wanting to help those in the community and it is such an honor for the base to be able to partner with the Happy Christmas Fund in order to do this,” says Happy Fund Board Member Beth Gosney.

Volunteers are at the base today, December 14, wrapping hundreds of gifts that will go to local children.

Many also spent Wednesday night and early this morning shopping for the toys, school supplies and other items that will be delivered to more than 400 families.