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Donate to Air Force Assistance Fund through May 4

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Joshua Eikren
  • 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  Personnel at Scott Air Force Base can continue donating to the Air Force Assistance Fund through May 4. Fundraising for the program began March 26.

The AFAF is made up of multiple organizations that give aid to Airmen and their families during emergencies, for educational needs, or for widows of Air Force members in need of financial assistance.

"It is a great program available to Airman in times of need with any type of financial issues," said Senior Airman Brandon Shafer, 375th Civil Engineer Squadron electrician.

Shafer's wife was born with the need of a wheel chair, when she got to Scott the wheel chair she was using needed to be replaced.

Shafer said their insurance didn't cover it, and he didn't know how they were going to afford a new one.

"My chain of command got me linked up with the Airman and Family Readiness Center, who helped me get grants through the Air Force Aid Society, an organization in the AFAF," said Shafer.

Other organizations included in AFAF are: Air Force Villages, the General and Mrs. Curtis E Lemay Foundation, and Air Force Enlisted Village Inc.

"Tap into it, I didn't know it was there until one of my first sergeants got me linked up with them," said Shafer. "A lot of guys like me blow off programs like these, either because they don't understand them or they think they'd never need to use them."

Scott's goal is to raise at least $118,280 by May 4. Thus far, the base has raised $101,271 with nearly 900 people donating.

"You never know if a situation like mine will arise, and if you get linked up with them it's fantastic what they can do," said Shafer. "It's made me a big advocate for the AFAF, and I tell my story to show that I'm proof of what it can do."

Each squadron on base has an AFAF representative collecting donations.

For more information about donating to the AFAF or using it services, contact Capt. Timothy Turner at 256-3235, 1st Lt. Joseph Gitersonke at 256-7360, or Lona Brendt, 375th Force Support Squadron communnity readiness consultant, at 256-8668.