AFAF campaign kicks off

  • Published
  • By Tyler Hemstreet
  • Staff writer
MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  The Air Force Assistance Fund drive, which benefits active duty, reserve, guard, retirees,  surviving spouses and families, kicked off here  Monday and runs through May 2. 

Unit and squadron AFAF representatives have been making the rounds talking about the campaign and distributing literature and payroll deduction slips all this week, said Master Sgt. Tony Brown, the installation project officer with the 62nd Maintenance Operation Squadron. 

The Secretary of the Air Force set the goal Air Force-wide of generating $5.7 million for the 2008 AFAF drive, Sergeant Brown said. 

"We as an installation want to do our part to help the Air Force get there," he said. 

In addition to reaching out to the entire base population, Sergeant Brown said the AFAF committee here plans on hosting some on-base fundraisers in the next couple of weeks. 

People can contribute to the drive through cash, check, money orders or payroll deductions to donate to any of the four funds -- the Air Force Aid Society, Indigent Widow's Funds for officers' and enlisted, and the General and Mrs. Curtis E. LeMay Foundation. 

The Air Force Aid Society provides Airmen and their families with worldwide emergency an array of base-level community-enhancement programs. 

The Air Force Enlisted Village Indigent Widows' Fund provides rent subsidy and other support to indigent widows and widowers of retired enlisted members ages 55 years and older. The village is located in Shalimar, Fla., near Eglin Air Force Base. 

The Air Force Villages Indigent Widow's Fund supports the Air Force Village in San Antonio, which is a life-care community for retired officers, spouses, widows or widowers, and family members. 

The General and Mrs. Curtis E. LeMay Foundation provides rent and financial assistance to indigent widows and widowers of officers
and enlisted members in their own homes and communities. Contributions to the AFAF are tax deductible. For more information, visit www.afassistancefund.org.