442nd Fighter Wing HRDC extends helping hand for holidays

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Leo Brown
  • 442nd Fighter Wing
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. --  The 442nd Fighter Wing Operation Airmen Helping Airmen "Christmas store" opened its doors on the Saturday of the December unit training assembly - and shut its doors the next day.

This short-lived enterprise wasn't meant to turn a profit. It was meant to help wing Airmen and their families have a more meaningful Christmas in these though economic times. And that it did, by offering free items ranging from diapers to digital cameras, thanks to the generosity of civilians and Citizen Airmen alike.

The "store," located near Whiteman's dining facility and its Arts and Crafts center, and set up for the December UTA by members of the wing's Human Resources and Development Council, served more than 90 families, according to Maj. Chrissy Abbott Marks, the 442nd Services Flight commander and an HRDC member.

"I'm really happy that the 442nd is known as a family and that we pulled together to help our own," she said. "It's just sad that a lot of people don't realize that we're civilians a lot of the time and that we're hurt by the economy as much as anyone else. It's our way of giving back."

"It was dynamite," said Master Sgt. Vickie Chambers, non-commissioned officer-in-charge of the Airman & Family Readiness office, and an HRDC member. "When people first came over, they didn't know what to expect. It just overwhelmed them. What we had to offer - people were just touched.

"Some said they weren't going to be able to give their kids a Christmas, so it's really touched our unit," she said. "We've had officers losing jobs, so it's not just for Airmen. It was for all ranks. For the people working the store, it was a huge blessing, helping our members give Christmas to their families."

Col. James Mackey, 442nd Fighter Wing vice commander and the HRDC chairman, said this good-will initiative began when Major Abbott Marks approached him with the idea in October.

"She just came up and wanted to know if I wanted to help push it and it was a really big success for as quick as we did it," he said. "Considering the turnaround time - we had the idea in October, we pushed it in November and we didn't have much opportunity to advertise it - it was hugely successful."

Drawing on her experience with organizations that help the military in a variety of ways, Sergeant Chambers contacted the St. Louis-Southwest Illinois chapter of Operation Home Front, a civilian-led effort that passes on donated items to military members in need.

"They donated roughly $6,200 worth of merchandise to us," Sergeant Chambers said. "Digital cameras, teddy bears, lunch boxes, clothes, baby accessories."

Major Abbott Marks said she, Sergeant Chambers and Tech. Sgt. Eddie Smith, an Airman and Family Readiness technician, road-tripped - via a truck from the 442nd Logistics Readiness Squadron - to Operation Home Front's warehouse in St. Louis in early December and came back ready to do business.

"The three of us drove there on Dec. 1, and (Jon Jerome, the chapter's president) said there's this giant warehouse and we're thinking it'd be something like Sam's," the major said. "It wasn't that big, but he had the walls stacked with items. He helps mainly Guard and Reserve units. He gave us diapers, toddler toys, cribs, toothbrushes, hats, backpacks."

The generosity wasn't limited to Operation Home Front's efforts, however.

"One civilian anonymously donated more than $300 worth of items," Major Abbott Marks said. "We collected cash, which bought nine turkeys and two hams, and we got 11 Hy-Vee grocery store gift cards. Each card would feed a family of eight."

The colonel said that more than $1,000 was collected during the November and December UTAs.
"I was thinking people are probably going to show up at the UTA wanting to donate cash, so I just decided I'd get a bunch of gift cards," the colonel said. "We also collected canned goods during the November UTA. So we used the money for the Hy-Vee cards, plus about 20 or 25 hams and turkeys from the commissary. If folks didn't live near a Hy-Vee, we took their name down, got them a ham or turkey and gave it to them on Sunday."

Approximately 13 wing members volunteered to man the store, but Colonel Mackey said the first hours of the store's business - or lack of - tempered any initial excitement.

"By 8 a.m. on Saturday, we had had one person drop through," he said. "By 10 a.m., a second person. But then word got out that this was a great thing, especially with the quality items for families for the holidays. I think people said to themselves, 'This is something I'm going to take advantage of,' so I really think it was word of mouth that got people coming in."

Major Abbott Marks said that while the customers were deeply grateful for the generosity shown them, they were quick to be generous themselves.

"People who came in with their families - their kids were so cute,"she said. "They picked some items they wanted. Some people who came by just came in to help out. Some who came in said, 'I don't want to take too much in case someone else needs this, too.'"

"The store was for all ranks, for anybody in need from the 442nd," Sergeant Chambers said. "For a first time, we're very pleased, especially considering how busy the weekend was. The outpouring of generosity was tremendous."

According to Major Abbott Marks, HRDC members mentor, retrain and recruit wing members, along with supporting various projects, such as Wright Flight.

"An example of what we do," the major said, "is a young Airman is having problems in his squadron. He can come to HRDC and say anonymously, 'I'm not getting the mentoring I need,' and we'll try to help him. HRDC is also sponsoring the family picnic in June and we're planning on getting the USO to host it, so hopefully it'll be a true family day and not many wing members will have to work it."

For more information on HRDC, contact Major Abbott Marks at christina.marks@whiteman.af.mil or Sergeant Chambers at vickie.chambers@whiteman.af.mil. For more information on Operation Home Front, go to www.operationhomefront.net.