The AMSAA Holiday Family Committee gathers around the tree used to collect hats, gloves and scarves donated to the Harford Family House.
Top Row (left to right) -- Lisa Carroll, Jen Adair, Shawn Brady, Mildred Mial, Holly Costanzi, Nathan Herbert, Ju...

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. -- For 17 years, the U.S. Army Materiel Systems Analysis Activity has helped local military and civilian families during the holiday season.

The 19-person AMSAA Holiday Family Committee raised nearly $3,000 throughout 2015 to sponsor 15 military families and two civilian families in the Harford County, Maryland community.

"We can't thank you enough for your overwhelming generosity," said Melinda Conway, Army Community Services (ACS) volunteer. "Your giving spirit has helped ensure that many children of Aberdeen Proving Ground's junior Soldiers will have an extra Merry Christmas this year."

In addition to sponsoring the families, the committee donated boxes of food, household items, hats and gloves to the Harford Family House in Aberdeen.

The group's 2015 fundraisers included a hot dog cookout, a silent auction during the organizational picnic, "Christmas in July" donation collection and a hats, gloves and scarfs tree.

"Our school is so blessed with our partnership with AMSAA during the holiday season," said Kelley Wettig, counselor at Havre de Grade Elementary School. "Thank you all for sponsoring our families and helping make these children's Christmas complete."

The committee worked with Wettig to sponsor six children at the elementary school.

Donations were also made to Roye Williams Elementary School, the Harford Family House, the Sexual Assault and Spouse Abuse Resource Center, and ACS.