Thanksgiving baskets offer more than food

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Abigail Klein
  • 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  More than 165 Thanksgiving Day meals were donated to McConnell families Nov. 20, 2012.

Coordinated by the Airman and Family Readiness Center and base first sergeants, the baskets were distributed to Airmen and their families for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday.

The event has a two-fold effect: it allows McConnell families in need to receive holiday meals while also giving Airmen the opportunity to provide to those families in need, said Dong Kim, 22nd Air Refueling Wing A&FRC community readiness consultant.

"Everyone will sometimes have a need, whether or not it's receiving that need or wanting to provide that need to someone else," said Kim. "This event allows everyone to give back."

The basket giveaway has been a tradition since 1992 with a community partnership donation of 10 meal baskets. In 1995, the A&FRC took over the coordination and began asking base agencies to provide food donations. The program has continued to grow each year.

Numerous squadrons and units donated food for this year's giveaway. Multiple food baskets were also donated by community organizations.

Laundry baskets were provided by base organizations, as well as re-usable grocery bags from the A&FRC, to assemble items into "baskets." The baskets varied in sizes small, medium and large, depending on the size of family the offering would be delivered too.

Items such as sweet potatoes, green beans, fresh fruit, stuffing and potatoes were donated to make a "traditional" Thanksgiving meal. The baskets also included gift cards donated by first sergeants that could be used to purchase hams or turkeys.

"Whenever we give the call to help our Airmen make their Thanksgiving or Christmas a little brighter the people on this base are phenomenal," said Mary Reece, 22nd ARW A&FRC chief. "The generosity here is overwhelming."

McConnell Airmen will continue to support others throughout the season with the holiday toy giveaway in December.

For more information on services offered through the A&FRC, call (316) 759-6020.