Sabers give back to community, family through AFAF

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Tammie Moore
  • 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
The Air Force Assistance Fund drive kicks off today and runs through April 12 with the goal of raising $66,215 at Spanghdalem Air Base to aid Airmen and their families through a wide variety of programs designed to provide support ranging from financial assistance to care for military widows. 

"We get many different opportunities to pay back our community and fellow military members and AFAF provides some of them," said Chief Master Sgt. Vance Clarke, 52nd Fighter Wing command chief. "Giving is our way of ensuring the future has what it needs to 'Take Care of Each Other.' Your contributions can directly aid someone working with you. Via the AFAF, you can also help a widow who does not have what you do through the Enlisted Village or LeMay funds. This is 'us helping us.'" 

The AFAF is the official charity of the Air Force; designed to provide worldwide assistance to Airmen and their families. The four charities which benefit from the campaign drive are the Air Force Aid Society, the LeMay Foundation Indigent Window's Fund, the Air Force Enlisted Village Indigent Widow's Fund and the Air Force Villages Indigent Widow's Fund. 

Each base benefits from AFAS donations through financial emergency assistance, educational assistance and to offer community enhancement programs. 

"Last year, Spangdahlem Airmen contributed $70,346 to Air Force Aid Society through the AFAF campaign," said Capt. Eric Haler, installation AFAF project officer from the 52nd Logistics Readiness Squadron. "However, Spangdahlem Airmen received $240,814 in various types of assistance and loans from AFAS in 2006." 

The campaign uses a three-pronged charter to promote the Air Force mission by providing assistance to members and their families. 

"I've had numerous Airmen who have worked for me benefit from this program," Captain Haler said. "A couple years ago, there was a brand-new Airman stationed at his first base in Germany and within his first year here, there was a tragic car accident back home that took the life of one of his siblings while a parent and another sibling were in critical condition. We worked on getting him an AMC flight back to Baltimore. Our unit's first sergeant worked with the Air Force Aid Society to procure an airline ticket from Baltimore to Colorado. As it turned out, what we were thinking was going to be an interest-free loan turned into a grant, which saved this young Airman from purchasing a ticket he would have had trouble repaying. He was able to get home in time for the funeral and his presence helped his mother and sibling recover." 

During 2006, AFAF charities provided direct assistance to more than 33,000 Air Force members and their families totaling more than $19.6 million in aid. Some of the donations, which were not directed toward base programs, were used to provide assistance to Air Force widows. 

"I have been to both the Air Force Village and the Air Force Enlisted Village and know them to be quality facilities making a big difference for people who have come before us," Chief Clarke said.  

When it comes to ways to help fellow Airmen, every donation makes a difference according to Chief Clarke. 

"You have to decide how you should help and where, but I believe it is important for each of us to help in some small way," Chief Clarke said. "If you have other ways you help, so be it. But, if each enlisted person in our Air Force gave $1 a month, $12 for the year, it would amount to approximately $3.33 million. If the more than 5,000 people at Spangdahlem were to donate only $1 a month, it would equate to more than $60,000. Some people will donate far more, some less, but the important part would be to donate. Dollars for these programs go directly back to helping people we work with and people who have come before us. Decide how and where you will help, but help in some way. 

"Please, don't be too busy; don't be too unsure or unknowledgeable to donate," Chief Clarke said. "Seek out the information you need and make a difference. Whether it be $1, $12 or $112 dollars, your donation will help."