AFAS assists Airman during time of loss

  • Published
  • By Mark Wyatt
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  The Air Force Assistance Fund annual campaign kicked off here March 23 and will continue through May 1. AFAF benefits four charities committed to supporting Airmen and their families through difficult times.

One of those charities is the Air Force Aid Society.

"The Air Force Aid Society helped me through one of the darkest periods of my life," said Senior Airman Lauren E. Parsons, 66th Comptroller Squadron customer service technician, who as an airman basic attending training at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., used an AFAS Standard Emergency Loan to fly home to Arkansas after learning her mom unexpectedly passed away.

The young Airman and her newlywed husband were not prepared financially to take on the high cost of airfare.

"After I graduated from basic training two months earlier, I had the opportunity to  spend the holidays with my husband in California before reporting to Keesler and tech school," Parsons said, whose husband was serving as a U.S. Air Force recruiter assigned near Travis Air Force Base, Calif. "When my mom passed away, my husband and I just didn't have the means for me to get home so soon after spending the holidays with my husband."

Because, despite her mother being sick for the better part of her life while growing up, battling various forms of cancer and other serious illnesses, her mom had overcome it every time.

Following her family's visit to watch her Basic Military Training graduation in San Antonio, Texas, Parsons said it seemed like things were finally looking up, until she received a call on Feb. 26, 2012, from her 15-year old brother.

"After hearing the worse news imaginable and then making calls to my grandmother and others, it wasn't until later that day that I began to wonder how I was going to get home for the funeral," she said, admitting that was the last thing she could emotionally handle at that point.

Feeling helpless, Parsons was unfamiliar with the Air Force Aid Society and the many programs available.

"My first sergeant and MTL [military training leader] were unbelievable in helping me and connecting me with resources at the Keesler AFB Airman and Family Readiness Center," she said. "Even when I arrived at the airport the next day I thought I was going to have to pay for the ticket out of pocket and my first sergeant who drove me had to explain the details to me again."

She acknowledged that had she not been so overcome by emotion already, she certainly would have broken down and cried from relief of that burden.

"I felt taken care of by my Air Force family," she said. "It's comforting to know I work for an organization that will take care of me and others like that."

Parsons has recommended the AFAS program to others for their own ordeals.

In 2014, the AFAS distributed $7.6 million in interest-free loans and grants to assist service members and families with emergency expenses such as shelter and food, vehicle, medical, emergency travel and moving expenses.

In addition to providing loans, the Air Force Aid Society assists Airmen through other community support programs and college scholarships for qualifying service members and their dependents.

"One question that comes up is how much of the donated money comes back to the Hanscom community?" said Terri O'Keefe, 66th Force Support Squadron AFRC community readiness consultant and AFAS officer. "Last year Hanscom pledges to the AFAS totaled more than $14,000, but through loans, grants, community enhancement programs and scholarships we provided more than $57,000 in support to Airmen."

Based on the AFAS fact sheet, the society assisted Airmen with $17.4 million in assistance in 2014 Air Force-wide.

Additionally, the AFAS helps to fund community programs managed through the Hanscom Airman and Family Readiness Center. These programs include: Bundles for Babies, Give Parents a Break, Child Care for PCS, respite care, Car Care Because We Care and Bundles for Babies. 

For further information on any of the community programs, contact O'Keefe at 781-225-2765. 

Other charities the AFAF benefits include the General and Mrs. Curtis E. LeMay Foundation, the Air Force Villages Charitable Foundation and the Air Force Enlisted Village.

Those who wish to contribute to AFAF are encouraged to contact the installation project officers, Capt. Mandy L. Bradesca at 781-225-6225 or Master Sgt. Aaron K. Marley at 781-225-6559.

To learn more about the AFAS and other AFAF charities, visit www.afassistancefund.org that features information about all of the affiliate charities, a link to donation forms, videos, assistance stories and frequently asked questions.