Vance AFAF campaign collects more than $18,000 in first week

  • Published
  • By Joe B. Wiles
  • 71st Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  "During our first week, we brought in $18,867 dollars with 30 percent contact," said Capt. Kris Ostrowski, Air Force Assistant Fund point of contact. 

Vance's AFAF fundraising campaign, which runs through April 17, provides support to the Air Force family. This year's base goal is to contact 100 percent of eligible contributors. 

During 2008, Vance members received more than $56,000 in loans, grants and other support from the Air Force Aid Society, one of four charitable affiliates of the AFAF. 

The other three affiliates are the Air Force Village Foundation, the General and Mrs. Curtis E. LeMay Foundation and the Air Force Enlisted Village. For more information, visit http://www.afassistancefund.org/#. 

The AFAS at Vance is run by Tech. Sgt. Bobbie White, with the Airman and Family Readiness Center. More than $43,000 was provided to Team Vance members in 2008 as loans and grants to take care of personal emergencies ranging from basic living expenses to deaths in the family. 

"We recently were able to provide emergency grants to a couple, both active duty, that needed to get themselves and two family members home," said Sergeant White. "A medical emergency had strapped them for cash, so the AFAS was able to give them grants (no payback required)." 

The AFAS doesn't just benefit active duty members. "The widow of a retired Air Force member was having difficulties during a paperwork delay over her husband's insurance payment," said Sergeant White. "We were able to get her a bridge loan to cover expenses during the delay." 

In addition to loans and grants, the AFAS provided Vance with more than $10,700 in community enhancement programs. "We give new mothers a layette, containing blankets, booties, hoodies and other baby stuff when they come through the orientation at the Health and Wellness Center," said Sergeant White. 

Other community programs include free car care for deployers, free child care during permanent change of station moves and to give parents a break. 

"It is nice to be able to help someone that has a true need," said Sergeant White.
For more information on AFAF and to identify your unit key worker, contact Captain Ostrowski, 213-7305, or Tech. Sgt. James Smith, 213-7919.