AFAF update: One week down, five to go

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Benjamin Sutton
  • 366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho --  The Air Force Assistance Fund campaign kicked off here March 26 and will run through May 4. The campaign offers servicemembers an opportunity to lend support to fellow Airmen who are in need.

This year, MHAFB's job is to make 100 percent contact with all active-duty Gunfighters and its goal is to achieve at least 50 percent participation and raise more than $61,000. So far base personnel have contributed more than $9,000.

According to the campaign's Web site, www.afassistancefund.org, the AFAF was established to provide for an annual effort to raise funds for the charitable affiliates that provide support to the Air Force family - active duty, retirees, reservists, guard and their dependents, including surviving spouses. The organizations provide assistance to the Air Force family in the form of aid in emergency, educational needs, or to have a secure retirement home for widows or widowers of Air Force members in need of financial assistance.

"If everyone could contribute $2 a month, we would crush our monetary goal and shock the entire Air Force, which averages participation of 19.67 percent," said installation AFAF representative Capt. Wade Appel, 366th Equipment Maintenance Squadron maintenance flight officer-in-charge. "You will never notice $2 a month, but the airmen who receive assistance will. All Airmen should consider donating because all monies go directly to helping our Air Force family."

The most common need is for emergency loan assistance, which includes basic living expenses for utility bills, food, rent or mortgage payments, emergency travel, vehicle repair and care, childcare assistance or respite care.

It is also important for Gunfighters to remember that the 726th Air Control Squadron and the 391st Fighter Squadron and Aircraft Maintenance Unit are currently deployed and it may take a while for their contributions to be added to the total.

According to their website, last year $9 million was given in emergency assistance, $6.5 million given for education assistance, $2.2 million given for community programs and more than 40,000 people were helped.