Bucs, Baldwin Group host holiday celebration for military families affected by the hurricanes

Military families enjoy night at Winter Fest

Jordan Bowen reports

TAMPA, Fla. - To support active military families, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Baldwin Group, and the American Red Cross hosted 70 military families affected by the hurricanes for Winter Fest at Raymond James Stadium.

"He was away for a lot of our son's life so it's nice that he gets to now experience these events with him. It stinks that we're flooded out," military wife Ruth Baffa-Waters said.

Buccaneers Winter Fest sign.

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Waters, her husband, and their three kids are still displaced from the hurricanes and living with her parents.

Jayleen Webb and her family are in temporary housing after their home took on five feet of water.

"It's been really hard," Webb said. "The loft is definitely very small and not baby-proof, so we have to move everything and let him run around in such a confined area."

Father and son play cornhole at Buccaneers Winter Fest event

Both military families were among 70 affected by the hurricanes. The Bucs and the Baldwin Group invited them to the Winter Fest at Raymond James Stadium.

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"It's an opportunity for the families and their children to just kind of not think about the day-to-day realities, the stresses, the challenges, but enjoy the community and the camaraderie," The Baldwin Group CEO Trevor Baldwin said.

Families were treated to a holiday party with music, games, food, Buccaneers cheerleaders, and Captain Fear, the Buccaneers mascot.

"It's very important to our entire organization to be part of our community and the recent hurricane military families that suffered," Buccaneers COO Brian Ford said. "We can't do what we do without them doing what they do each and every day, so this is just a small opportunity for us to say thank you."

A family at Buccaneers Winter Fest event.

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The families invited were chosen by the American Red Cross, which has a special program dedicated to helping military families during times of crisis, like hurricanes.

"It's so nice. It's just really great for the kids. I they can run around. I'd be fine. Be a kid again like we used to be. You don't have to worry," Baffa-Waters said. "They don't really get that. They were displaced, right? So stuff like this is just great for them."

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