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- Volunteer pilots from Angel Flight West delivered gifts to schools along the Utah-Arizona border on Wednesday.
- The annual "Santa Flight" brought toys and supplies to 500 students from two schools.
- Community sponsors and pilots are united to support students during economic challenges.
COLORADO CITY, Ariz. — Santa Claus traded his sleigh for small planes Wednesday as 20 volunteer pilots from Angel Flight West's Utah wing flew hundreds of miles to deliver Christmas gifts and school supplies to two Title I schools on the Utah-Arizona border.
The annual "Santa Flight" brought toys, winter coats, backpacks and more than 500 books donated by PBS Utah to about 500 students from Water Canyon Elementary in Hildale, Utah, and Cottonwood Elementary in Colorado City, Arizona. The schools gathered at the Colorado City airport to greet Santa, Mrs. Claus, some elves and the pilots.
"Well, this is just excitement," said Brad Jolley, principal at Water Canyon Elementary in Hildale. "I mean, you look at the faces of the kids, you see smiles, and just a great opportunity, great atmosphere."
"This is the first time that our two schools in our valley have come together and done an activity," said Natalie Hammon, principal at Cottonwood Elementary in Colorado City. "So Santa Flight has really helped us unite our valley and let our two schools work together for a great cause."
The donations were made possible by community groups and sponsors, including the John C. Kish Foundation, Bank of Utah and the Leavitt Group. Lou Rossi, Utah Wing leader for Angel Flight West, said the effort reflects the generosity of pilots and donors during a tough economic time.
Angel Flight West is best known for providing free air transportation for patients traveling long distances for medical care. Volunteer pilot Steve Booth said the holiday mission is just one way to give back.
"For somebody that might need a four- or five-hour car ride after a cancer treatment, a 45 (-minute) or one-hour flight just makes a huge, huge difference in their life," Booth said.
The Santa Flight tradition began in 2000 and rotates among rural schools each year.
