PEA Airmen lead volunteer effort

  • Published
  • By Mark Wyatt
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  Base volunteers participated in two Habitat for Humanity of Greater Lowell community projects in Billerica, Mass., as part of a Patriot Enlisted Association-led volunteer effort April 23.

Airman 1st Class Noelle Valentine, who organized the service project, points to the PEA philosophy of "Inspire, Motivate and Educate," as a motivating factor in organizing the effort.

"It is such a privilege to volunteer in a community that has shown me such wonderful support, often as simple as extending a 'Thank you for your service,'" said Valentine, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center Detachment 7 unit deployment manager and PEA president. "Plus, being able to give back is a lot of fun, as well as good karma."

Volunteers were split into two groups. Four volunteers helped build a handicap ramp that Habitat organizers hope to have completed and installed over the next few weeks for an elderly man as part of the Critical Home Repair Program. Ten other Airmen were at a build site for a single family, handicap-accessible home.

"The Critical Home Repair Program reaches out to our elderly and disabled veterans," said Kim Trainor, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Lowell community relations director. "We perform repairs like installing handicap ramps, new roofs, updating a bathroom and more."

Valentine said that volunteers also performed finish work such as painting and installing doors.

Among those helping was Capt. Brayden Bennett, 66th Medical Squadron Pharmacy Services officer in charge, who was inspired to volunteer through other community service projects he had been involved in.

"I used to coach wheelchair basketball and I saw how some of the guy's houses didn't function well," he said. "When I heard that we were building a handicapped ramp [I said] 'I'm in.'"

Trainor points out that spirit is the backbone of Habitat for Humanity. 

"The majority of the work is done by volunteers," she said. "Habitat would not be able to build an affordable home without them."

And according to Trainor, Hanscom AFB has provided 145 volunteers and more than 1,120 hours since 2008.

"We appreciate the hard work that Hanscom volunteers have provided and we look forward to continuing this partnership," she said. "They are ready to roll up their sleeves, do whatever task is needed and accomplish so much each time they come out."

The PEA is a private organization whose mission is to foster leadership and professional development of airman basic through senior airman at Hanscom AFB through mentorship from other private organizations on base.

"Volunteerism is at the core of what the PEA is trying to accomplish," Valentine said. "It promotes personal growth, saves resources, brings people together to accomplish a common goal and strengthens our community."

In addition to Habitat for Humanity, the PEA is active in collecting old uniforms for area high school Junior ROTC programs.

For those E-1s through E4s interested in becoming a member of the PEA, the organization is scheduled to meet May 7 at 3:30 p.m. at the Resiliency Center. At that meeting, the organization is holding elections for new officers.

For learn more about the PEA, contact Valentine at 781-225-1621.