Chapel host single parents' appreciation dinner

DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, DE, UNITED STATES

06.10.2014

Story by Airman 1st Class William Johnson 

436th Airlift Wing

DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. -- Wake up, send the kids to school, go to work, pick the kids up, feed them dinner, bathe them, put them to sleep, repeat. This is the daily ritual of a single parent.

The 436th Airlift Wing Chapel gave a break to this strenuous routine to single parents of Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, with a Single Parents' Appreciation Dinner June 6, 2014, at the Olive Garden in Dover, Delaware. Free childcare with complementary food and entertainment for the children was provided for parents who attended the dinner.

Staff Sgt. Javon Merritte, 436th AW chaplain assistant and a single parent, said single parents are a small populace on base and are often times overlooked. Merritte said he wanted to host the event to bring single parents together and to share experiences and build relationships between the parents.

"The thought process behind this event was to give single parents a much needed break and to come out and enjoy a free meal," said Merritte. "The dinner gave single parents a chance to meet each other and we hope this will provide them with a support network for each other."

The appreciation dinner was also open to married parents with a spouse deployed. Having a deployed spouse leaves the other spouse to pick up the extra slack and assume a similar role to single parents.

Shamika Chamberlain, wife of deployed Staff Sgt. Lavondre Chamberlain, attended the dinner and said she was grateful that the dinner was open to parents in her situation.

"I was kind of hesitant of going at first, but I'm thankful I went," said Chamberlain. "I thought the dinner was awesome, it was a relaxing time and we got to have fun and mingle with each other and talk about our experiences as single parents."

After the dinner, Chaplain (Capt.) Joshua Rumsey, 436th AW chaplain, gave a few short classes and handed out books about time management, financial management and parenting.

Staff Sgt. Lori Campbell, 436th Logistics Readiness Squadron vehicle operations dispatcher, said the books that Rumsey handed out were beneficial for single parents and she plans to follow the advice given by them and Rumsey.

"It was inspiring to have Chaplain Rumsey hand out and talk about the same book he and his wife used to reduce debt," said Campbell. "Overall, it was such a refreshing night and it was very thoughtful of the chapel to sponsor an event as unique as this."

• Date Taken: 06.10.2014
• Date Posted: 06.11.2014 09:19
• Story ID: 132759
• Location: DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, DE, US