Video: ‘Happy Fund’ Spreads Community Cheer

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LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) — The Columbus Air Force Base helped spread the holiday cheer Wednesday morning.

The CAFB Honor Guard delivered fruit baskets to elderly community members throughout Columbus and Lowndes County.

It was all part of the “Happy Christmas Fund.”

More than 100 baskets were hand delivered to residents nominated by the Department of Health and Human Services and the Townsend Community Center.

Recipients say they are grateful for the bit of Christmas spirit.

“I enjoy it, thank y’all very much. It’s nice of you all to think about me and y’all have a merry Christmas and a happy New Year,” the wheelchair-bound Little told the group.

The “Happy Christmas Fund” was established by the late George “Happy” Irby, a longtime staff member at the Columbus Club.

Happy saved his tips to help others and started giving to the community in 1958. After his death, base personnel, volunteers and his family have continued to raise money and carry on the tradition each year..