The Christmas that saved Europe's kids

Before Christmas in 1948 three U.S. Air Force pilots in Germany got a brilliant idea to help Santa Claus. Lt. Jack La Marr of Long Island, Captain Sherwood Drumm of Massachusetts and Lt. F. Konop of New York City asked Americans for toys, candy and clothing to give the impoverished German kids.

The pilots were part of the Berlin Airlift bringing lifesaving supplies into West Berlin, which had been blockaded by the Soviet Union. The pilots did not want to see German children miss out on Christmas. These kids had seen so much war, hunger and sadness in their young lives.

Operation Santa Claus was started and it took multiple planes to bring all the donated packages to Germany for Christmas.

But this was just the tip of the iceberg for Christmas in 1948.

General Lucius Clay, who commanded the American forces in Germany after the war, requested donations of CARE food packages for German kids. There was extreme hunger and malnutrition in Germany after World War II.

In response, at least half a million CARE food packages were sent to Europe in the weeks before Christmas because of the holiday generosity.

The Marshall Plan to rebuild Europe encouraged Americans to send more of these Christmas food packages so hungry children could eat well. Germany was the biggest recipient of the food packages, followed by Italy and France.

Lt. Col. Robert C. Hall in Germany wrote of the holiday food packages "you have no idea just how much happiness you have been instrumental in bringing to the youngsters of this war — torn country …“

Kids in Europe were benefiting too from school lunch and infant nutrition programs powered by American donations and the Marshall Plan. Food aid for the millions of starving people in Europe saved lives and gave them the strength to rebuild. For children, food gave hope for the future.

During this holiday season and into the new year we should also extend that same kindness to millions of hungry children in war and drought zones. They are mostly forgotten by the world.

In war afflicted nations like Sudan, South Sudan, Gaza, Mali, Yemen and Congo the World Food Program (WFP) does not have enough funding to reach everyone in need. The WFP states “Severe shortfalls are crippling emergency responses, forcing deep ration cuts and reducing access to food for the most vulnerable groups with refugee food assistance at a breaking point.”

This holiday season and New Year we can do something about it by donating to a charity feeding the world's hungry. The World Food Program, Save the Children, Mary’s Meals, Mercy Corps, CARE, UNICEF, Catholic Relief Services and others need help in these hunger emergencies.

There is more than enough food and wealth to feed the hungry at home and abroad. We can help local foodbanks and charities. This holiday you can carry on the Spirit of Operation Santa Claus and the Marshall Plan Christmas food packages. You can feed hungry children everywhere. Tell your elected officials to make feeding the hungry a priority year-round.

William Lambers is an author who partnered with the U.N. World Food Program on the book Ending World Hunger.