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JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii – Ellyn Dunford, spouse of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joseph F. Dunford, visited the Armed Services YMCA on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Feb. 10 to talk to children, spouses, and staff members.
During the tour of the facility Dunford held a discussion with spouses and staff members to talk about some of the difficulties of operating in an overseas environment, and providing programs to the young men and women of the armed services who need them. Some of the key issues discussed were childcare waiting lists, background checks, the lack of volunteers, and funding.
“So there are two challenges that were raised here. One is that there is a waiting list, because there are so many people who desire these kinds of services in this area and recognize the value of starting early childhood education,” said Dunford. “The other is being able to get enough staff to serve them. There are people who want to do it, but the vetting process takes an unreasonable amount of time; and that interferes with the ability to expand services and maintain services.”
Dunford told the staff that she will take these concerns back with her to Washington and begin working on resolutions to help support the facility.
“Having her here really helps highlight the services we provide and the organization itself, because one of our biggest challenges is getting the word out about our programs,” said Laurie Moore, executive director of Armed Services YMCA. “We want to share what we do so that we can have more people participate and provide the services and programs to those that need it and want it.”
Dunford also took the opportunity to interact with the staff and children during a sing-a-long, dance, and display of arts and crafts.
“I love seeing the children. They are a tonic that makes you feel good and makes you feel like the world will be ok, because we have all these wonderful little faces,” said Dunford. “It was really nice to see so many people working together to make sure this next generation grows up with a good education, a love for learning, and knowing that their educators care about them. That’s really important.”
The staff members were happy to host Mrs. Dunford and appreciated her ability to relate to the difficulties military families face.
“It was so great for our staff because our staff really felt very encouraged by her visit. Also, the parents of some of the children at the school that had the opportunity to interact with her; were delighted to be able to speak military spouse to military spouse and share common joys, frustrations, and she just related so beautifully to everyone she came in contact with,” said Moore. “I really think it was a very uplifting visit for our program participants and the staff, too.”
The Armed Services YMCA of Honolulu provides quality social, educational, and recreational programs to meet the needs of military service members and their families in the state of Hawaii. Last year the non-profit organization served over 43,000 service members. After the ASYMCA visit, Dunford continued her tour advocating for military family support programs on Oahu.
| Date Taken: | 02.12.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 02.12.2016 07:11 |
| Story ID: | 188705 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, HI, US |
| Web Views: | 301 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Ellyn Dunford meets with staff, children at Armed Services YMCA Honolulu, by PO1 Jerome Johnson, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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