Airmen help each other through AFAS

  • Published
  • By Mark Wyatt
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  The Air Force Assistance Fund campaign kicked off here March 21 and will continue through April 29. The campaign offers service members an opportunity to lend support to fellow Airmen in need.

The goal at Hanscom this year is $39,500.

AFAF benefits four charities committed to supporting Airmen and their families through difficult times. One of these charities is the Air Force Aid Society that was founded by Army Air Force personnel as a relief organization.

History of helping Airmen

According to an AFAS guide, the society has an established history of promoting the Air Force mission by helping Airmen and their families.

"The Air Force Aid Society is a non-profit organization founded in 1942 to provide education funds to assist families of aviators who were killed or seriously injured in action," said Terri O'Keefe, Airman and Family Readiness Center community readiness consultant team lead. "This tradition of Airmen helping Airmen has endured for nearly 75 years, and has expanded to provide needed help for service members and their families during times of need and through other programs."

Donations help fund many of the community support programs, as well as provide loans and college scholarships for qualifying service members and their dependents.

Last year more than $75,000 in Air Force emergency assistance, community outreach and education grants were provided to Airmen and their families at Hanscom through the AFAS, according to O'Keefe.

Based on an AFAS fact sheet, Air Force-wide the society assisted Airmen with $17.4 million in assistance in 2015.

How AFAS assists Hanscom Airmen

In the past year, Hanscom donations made to the AFAS have provided funds for the following community-based programs: Give Parents a Break, Car Care Because We Care, Bundles for Babies and child care for members that are in the midst of a permanent change of station (PCS).

Jennifer Rohm, an Air Force spouse, recently attended the Bundles for Babies class.

"I thought Bundles for Babies was a fantastic workshop," she said. "My personal favorite was the car seat safety section; I highly recommend that piece of the training, if nothing else, for all parents-to-be." 
 
Family members at Hanscom also received $27,000 in college grant money.

Additionally, the AFAS offers interest-free loans to help families with emergency financial needs through the Falcon loan and Standard Emergency Assistance loan program. 

"The Falcon Loan is for $750 or less and can be used for emergency needs such as basic living, car repair and emergency travel," said O'Keefe. "This loan is for active duty Air Force members stationed at Hanscom Air Force Base only."

O'Keefe added that the Falcon loan offers a streamlined application process requiring less paperwork.

The Standard Emergency Assistance loan is also offered during times of emergency financial need such as car repairs, rental deposits, emergency travel, utilities and more. This loan may include financial counseling and other strategies to help families solve temporary problems in order to get back on track.

For more information on either of these programs, contact O'Keefe at the AFRC at 781-225-2765. Service members may also apply online at www.afas.org. 

Airmen helping Airmen

Donations made to the AFAS allow many of these programs to continue each year.

"For those interested in contributing to this year's campaign, doing so will provide a means for the Airman and Family Readiness Center to continue providing to members of the Air Force family during times of need," said Master Sgt. Ross Weatherford, Hanscom's installation project officer. "The focus this year is not for Airmen to give more, but that more Airmen give something."

O'Keefe explains how donations make an impact at Hanscom.

"One question that comes up is 'How much of the donated money comes back to the Hanscom community?'" said O'Keefe. "Last year, the Airman and Family Readiness Center received more than $19,000 through the Air Force Assistance Fund, however, the Hanscom community received much more than that through loans, community enhancement programs and scholarships."

And by Airmen helping Airmen, those AFAS programs are able to make a difference at Hanscom.

"This is not about what any one person does to support our military members; rather, the Air Force Aid Society is a charity created by Air Force members, supported by Air Force members and serves Air Force members," said Robert Gallagher, AFAF assistant installation project officer.

For more information, or to make a donation, contact Weatherford at 781-225-6131 or Gallagher at 781-225-0687.

To learn more about the AFAF and the three other charities, visit www.afassistancefund.org.