Photo By Tech. Sgt. Nicole Wright | Volunteers from the 146th Airlift Wing’s Key Spouse/Volunteer Program partnering...... read more read more
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CHANNEL ISLANDS AIR NATIONAL GUARD STATION, Port Hueneme, Calif. –
California Air National Guard airmen from the 146th Airlift Wing (146 AW) gathered in front of the wing’s dining facility as the wing’s Key Spouse/Key Volunteer program and the Airman and Family Readiness Program Office (A&FRPO) provided a plethora of donated toys for airmen and their families to choose from, Dec. 18, 2019.
Each year, members of the Key Spouse/Key Volunteer program pick up and deliver gathered toys provided by Operation Home Front, a nonprofit organization that donates toys to military families in time for the holidays. It’s one of the many events the Key Spouse/Key volunteer program provides annually.
Recent award recipient for the 2019 Key Spouse award and Key Spouse for the 146 AW Maintenance Squadron Joyce Ramirez, coordinated the pickup and delivery of the donated toys this year, giving airmen access to hundreds of potential cost saving gifts for their families, as they walked to lunch during the wing’s regularly scheduled drill.
Ramirez, a 10-year Key Spouse veteran, enjoys organizing events like the toy drive because of her connection to unit.
“I consider the members of this wing my extended family. We do such a good job of taking care of each other and I am so proud of our wing members for stepping up to be there for each other. That’s part of the reason why I wanted to be a part of the Key Spouse program. Julie Morency and I truly enjoy doing everything we can to take care of our family,” said Ramirez.
Morency, Program Manager of the A&FRPO for the 146 AW for over 11 years, partners with Ramirez every year for events like the toy drive with the intention to help as many military families as possible during the holiday season.
Morency says the toy drive started around seven years ago and is a cherished event at the wing every year.
“People love and appreciate it. It is a simple way to add a little brightness to their day. For those who struggle financially, it’s a significant event as it helps them fill the gaps for their families during the holidays. Many of those families are already stressed out around this time of year and this is another way we can help,” said Morency.
146 AW Key Spouse/Volunteer programs actively strive to reduce these types of stress by enhancing readiness and strengthening resiliency. Key Spouses who are commander-appointed, serve as a vital resource to Air National Guard families by identifying and addressing the needs of service members and their families. Ramirez and Key Spouse Volunteers like her help establish a strong sense of community in the Air National Guard and within their wing’s.
Community is something that Ramirez attributes to the wings success of helping so many families.
“We are a small community but we have big hearts. I think it’s like that in a lot of Air National Guard wings. In the guard it’s common to find many generations of family serving the same wing for years and years. I think that’s where our mentality of taking care of each other comes from. We’re all in this together,” said Ramirez.
| Date Taken: | 12.23.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 12.23.2019 18:38 |
| Story ID: | 357160 |
| Location: | PORT HUENEME, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 42 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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