Clearing plant overgrowth

Senior Airman Anessah LaFlamme, 627th Force Support Squadron assignment technician, clears plant overgrowth from a baseball diamond during the Thurston County Day of Service event Oct. 16, 2014, at Pioneer Park in Tumwater, Wash. Airmen participating in the event performed a variety of jobs that included painting, demolition, brush removal, and graffiti removal. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Jacob Jimenez)

Packaging food

Airmen from the 627th Air base Group package food during the Thurston County Day of Service event Oct. 16, 2014, at the Thurston County Food Bank in Olympia, Wash. The food packaged by the Airmen will go to children attending after-school programs in the local community. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airmen Jacob Jimenez)

Painting

Senior Airman Johnathan Hall, 627th Civil Engineer Squadron heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration journeyman, paints the outside of a housing unit during the Thurston County Day of Service event Oct. 16, 2014, in Spanaway, Wash. The event was coordinated and hosted by the 627th Air Base Group as part of their community partnership with Thurston County to strengthen the relationship between Joint Base Lewis-McChord and the local community. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Jacob Jimenez)

Airmen participate in Day of Service

Published Oct. 20, 2014
By Senior Airman Jacob Jimenez
62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. -- More than 200 Airmen from the 627th Air Base Group spent a day volunteering in the local community during the Thurston County Day of Service event Sept. 16, in Lacey, Washington.

The event was coordinated and hosted by the 627th ABG as part of their community partnership with Thurston County to strengthen the relationship between JBLM and the local community. The first of its kind, the event was composed of Airmen volunteering at 12 nonprofit organizations.

The organizations consisted of Thurston County Food Bank, Thurston County Affordable Housing, Pioneer Park, Olympia Waldorf School, SafePlace Olympia, and For Heaven's Sake animal rescue.

"The local community has tremendously supported our Airmen and their families," said Col. Anthony Davit, 627th ABG commander. "This is our way of giving back."

Airmen participating in the event performed a variety of jobs that included painting, demolition, brush removal, and graffiti removal.

"It's always fun to do something different and meet new people," said Senior Airman Christopher Morrow, 627th Communications Squadron cyber operations systems administration. "This strengthens us as community and as unit."

The Airmen's efforts were met with appreciation from those they assisted.

"This has been really great for us," said Claudia Supensky, For Heaven's Sake animal rescue director. "I really appreciate all the hard work they've done."

The day's event concluded with a barbeque at the Thurston County fairgrounds. At the barbeque Airmen who volunteered were thanked by their leadership for their hard work.

"The event went well and it was good to see the impact that our Airmen were making within the community," said Davit. "I hope this will encourage more Airmen to get involved within their community and volunteer."

To find out more information on volunteering in the local community, call Maj. John Shipman at: 253-982-5556