Sixty-four new and expecting moms at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey took home a new crib, a rocker seat, an air purifier, a $100 gift card and a host of other gifts while hobnobbing with Kim, Kourtney and Khloé Kardashian of tabloid fame July 7. The event was courtesy of Operation Shower, a nonprofit that has hosted dozens of baby showers for over 1,600 military moms and families since its founding in 2007. The Kardashian sisters of E! network’s “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” hosted the July 7 shower at Battello, a waterfront restaurant in Jersey City. The 64…
Browsing: Charity
An airman was one of five medics and corpsmen who were honored last week at the 8th annual ‘Angels of the Battlefield’ gala sponsored by the Armed Services YMCA in Washington, D.C. Gen. Larry Spencer, Air Force vice chief of staff, presented the ‘Angel’ award on behalf of the Air Force to Senior Airman Taylor Renfro. Renfro, 23, received the award for providing life-saving treatment during her career as an Air Force medic. Renfro herself was saved by another medic in May 2013 when her vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan. Severely injured, the Jacksonville, Ill.,…
After losing one arm and both of his legs to an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan, Master Sgt. Joseph Deslauriers is moving forward — this time into a new home. The Building Homes for Heroes Foundation, a non-profit founded in 2006, broke ground Nov. 18 on the Deslauriers’ family home, complete with a work out area, a therapy pool and enough space for him to move around freely, according to an Air Force release. “This is going to lift a huge weight off my shoulders, especially since I may be medically retiring in the future,” Deslauriers, who currently lives in…
The Air Force Marathon has officially sold out all races. So what’s next? Organizers have announced details for a transfer program, which is now “the only official way for runners to give their [running] bib to another runner,” according to Rob Aguiar, the race director. So essentially, if you don’t wish to run anymore, give your spot to one of your friends. “Along with the charity partner slots, it is the only way for someone not currently registered to secure a spot,” he said in an Air Force press release. The transfer program will open July 22 at 9 a.m.…
More than 20 airmen from Dover Air Force Base, Del., packed 3,000 meals for local underprivileged youths at the Food Bank of Delaware June 12. Senior Airman Samuel Taylor writes that the volunteers partnered with the food bank, which relies solely on volunteerism to aid more than 240,000 food-insecure Delaware residents annually. The meals, consisting of milk, juice, fruit, cereal and microwaveable entrees, are delivered to children whose families often must choose between purchasing food and basic utilities. “We don’t have paid workers, so without volunteers like [the airmen of Dover], this food would not make it into the communities…
Something as simple as a T-shirt has a military connection. And this year, it celebrates its 100th birthday. In 1913, the U.S. Navy was the first military branch to issue the T-shirt to be worn under uniforms. By WWII, it became standard issue for both the Navy and the Army. Labeled as “underclothing,” it eventually became acceptable for soldiers to remove their dress shirt while working in hot climates, wearing nothing but their uniform pants and a T-shirt. While the public didn’t love that idea at first, more and more people embraced T-shirts when new designs and colors emerged in…
*UPDATE: The group ran the route in exactly 33 hours, covering 175.3 miles. They surpassed their $5,000 goal by $150.* A typical Friday probably consists of getting up and going to work, heading home afterward and later venturing out with some friends or watching TV. But these guys have a completely different agenda in mind: run all the way to Canada and back in under 48 hours. “It started kind of as having one last ‘hurrah’ with guys stationed together, but it quickly turned into something more,” said Randy Kitzmiller, special agent with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations…
Demolition and salvage operations are still happening across the East Coast because of Hurricane Sandy. And relief goes beyond foundations such as the American Red Cross. The Air Warrior Courage Foundation, holding the motto to “care for our own,” was formed back in 1998 as a charitable foundation, providing scholarships and aid to active duty, Guard, reserve, retired military personnel and their families and the families of deceased military members. But through the years they’ve taken on larger projects, including Sandy relief. The foundation allocated $100,000 for military members in need of lodging, rebuilding, clothing, bare essentials and equipment to…
