McConnell clothes Wichita

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Colby L. Hardin
  • 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  Three Airmen from McConnell Air Force Base are bringing Christmas to people in need all across Wichita, Kansas.

Senior Airman Heather Bell, 22nd Communications Squadron installation spectrum manager, Airman 1st Class Rebecca Rios, 22nd CS official mail center technician and A1C Thanh Chu, 22nd CS radio frequency transmission technician, joined together to bring a clothes drive to McConnell.

All donations will be collected by the Airmen and given to people in need during the holiday season.

"It's a time to give," said Chu. "Some people won't be receiving gifts from their family, so I think this is a good way to reach out to the community and help out those in need."

The drive started on Nov. 19 and is going through Dec. 19. All donations of gently used clothing are accepted.

Seven boxes, marked 'Clothe Wichita' can be found around base. So far approximately 1,000 articles of clothing have been donated.

"I feel like we're making a big difference," said Rios. "No matter how small the donations are."

Cold weather clothing and shoes are the greatest need. Undergarments are also accepted but only if bought brand new and still in the original package.

"Originally, I thought that we would receive maybe one full box," Chu added. "Turns out I have to empty the boxes a few times a week, we barely have storage space for all of our donations now."

The three Airmen each had the idea that they wanted to help people in need and had to figure out how to put their ideas into motion.

"We all had different plans, but the same idea," said Bell. "So we found a non-profit shelter that would centralize everything that we wanted to do into one."

The trio Airmen knew that they had the chance to make a difference and they took full advantage of it.

"I feel like there's so much opportunity to help here at McConnell," Rios said. "Knowing that you just made someone's life even a little bit easier is priceless."