Team Vance, Oklahoma military join NBA stars for volunteer effort

  • Published
  • By David Poe
  • 71st Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Team Vance Airmen joined regional troops and professional basketball players for a day of volunteering in Oklahoma City, March 9.

In all, more than 100 servicemembers teamed up with the Oklahoma City Thunder and packed more than 20,000 pounds of food at the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma. 

The joint effort was a product of a 2014 partnership between the DOD, the NBA and USA Basketball called "Commitment to Service." The comprehensive collaboration includes a focus on volunteering in the communities that troops and players call home.

In addition to the approximately 19,000 meals the team packaged, they assembled more than 800 meals for Oklahoma school children. According to the food bank, a school-program meal is the only complete meal one in four Oklahoma school children eat daily.

The day's labor benefitted families in the 53 counties and 501 elementary schools across the state.

While Airman Danica Gendron, a 71st Comptroller Squadron customer service technician, made sure to get a memento photo with Russell Westbrook, the 2015 NBA All-Star Game MVP and possible player of the year, the Airman said the work came first.

"I was raised to work for things," Gendron said. "People are working two and three jobs just to put food on the table -- I've been there. This was a perfect opportunity to help out."
According to Kristi Youngblood, the food bank senior coordinator, volunteers save the food bank $3 million in annual labor costs.

With a World War II veteran grandfather and an uncle who also served in the military, Thunder rookie Mitch McGary said he was glad to be a part the Commitment to Service collaboration as both a volunteer and an admirer of troops.

"Working with the military and giving back are great things to do while we're playing a sport we love," said the 2014 NBA Draft first-round pick. "[Troops] are so down down-to-earth and humble and getting a chance to talk with them is important."

Youngblood said the food bank always appreciates their military volunteers because of their dedication to service - to their communities and to the country.

"People usually think of super heroes being people like Spider-Man, Batman and Superman, but when you're in trouble, do they ever come help you?" she said. "If you ever want to know what a real hero looks like, look in the mirror. You guys are the real heroes and you've made a real difference today."