Photo By Tech. Sgt. Chelsea FitzPatrick | U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Matthew Brancato, commander of the 127th Wing, and his wife,...... read more read more
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Have you wondered how to bridge the gap between your family, home life, and your military service?
The Selfridge Family Readiness Group is a volunteer-run, donation-funded, private organization based at Selfridge Air National Guard base. It is responsible for supporting 127th Wing members, and their families.
The FRG works directly with the 127th Wing commander to accomplish his mission. It is funded through donations from community members, local businesses and organizations.
“We like to say they are, ‘an arm of the commander,’” said Jean Wixom, military and family readiness program manager, 110th Wing, Battle Creek Air National Guard base. “Selfridge FRG is awesome, through community support they do a lot for the [127th] wing,”
The FRG accomplishes much of their mission to support Wing members by providing a variety programs, resources, events and support and needs-based assistance, year-round. FRG-hosted events and recreational activities take place throughout the year to inform and educate families about their airmen’s service. Other events allow families to spend time with fellow Wing members to build cohesion and improve camaraderie, such as the annual, “Family Appreciation,” picnic.
“It’s important to have a Selfridge FRG for morale and connection,” said Chandra Graves, Selfridge FRG president.
Children participate in events at their parent’s workplace during the annual “Halloween Spook-tacular,” and “Breakfast with a Military Child.” These events provide breakfast, lunch, snacks and fun.
Graves, also an experienced military spouse, is committed to support service members because her now-adult children participated in the same FRG events.
“It’s my goal to help make happy memories for service members and their families,” Graves said.
The FRG also facilitates happy memories by providing military families in need during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday seasons. Annually, they are able to giveaway turkeys to more than 300 Wing members.
They are also able to enrich Christmas holidays by personally delivering Christmas gifts to children missing their deployed parents, and by facilitating is the “Adopt-a-Family” program.
“We want to be able to have arms around our people and support them,” said Graves. “I just want you all to know you are supported and loved.”
“Adopt-a-family” allows donors to adopt a military family who may be facing challenges. Gifts are distributed for the holiday season to members’ families who apply and meet the eligibility criteria.
These events and programs also give the community an opportunity to demonstrate their appreciation to servicemembers.
“We are gifted with gift cards to distribute if someone needs food, but there are also times when a member’s refrigerator or stove may go out and we are here to support,” Graves said.
As Airmen leave for or return from deployments, the FRG is always there with food and gift bags. Even a contribution as small as a sandwich before a long flight can have a large impact.
While those Airmen are deployed, the FRG provides a sense of community for their families.
Graves’ job is to coordinate volunteers and act as a conduit between the members, their families and donors. The FRG leadership consists of a president, vice president, treasurer, secretary, and many other volunteers.
“The Selfridge FRG’s support services are dependent upon the availability of volunteers and the battle rhythm of the 127th Wing,” Wixom said.
The FRG is always searching for more volunteers and donors to support their mission.
“If we could leave a legacy, I would love for people to say this group on base helped me at a time when my family member was serving,” Graves said. “This group is a benefit to us.”
Anyone interested in information, volunteering, sharing with family, or participating in any capacity may email the Selfridge FRG at selfridgefrg@gmail.com.
| Date Taken: | 10.14.2023 |
| Date Posted: | 10.18.2023 09:36 |
| Story ID: | 455792 |
| Location: | SELFRIDGE AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, MI, US |
| Web Views: | 47 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Selfridge Family Readiness Group supports Airmen, by A1C Nathan Wingate, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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