Airmen benefit from 10 years of good will

by Senior Airman Benjamin Sutton
366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

12/28/2011 - NAMPA, Idaho -- Members of the 366th Fighter Wing, local community leaders and officials celebrated the 10th anniversary of working together with residents from Silvercrest Estates II in Nampa, Idaho, who donated more than $15,000 as well as approximately 1,000 pounds of food, clothes, toys and 300 blankets to Mountain Home Air Force Base families through Operation Warmheart this year alone.

"Silvercrest does a fantastic job of supporting our Gunfighters through Operation Warmheart," said U.S. Air Force Col. Ron Buckley, 366th FW commander.

After the horrific events of 9/11, the small senior community made the decision to assist service members any way they could.

"After we were attacked on 9/11 we formed a committee to decide what we could do to help military personnel," said Rita Albers, who, with her husband, Bud, has managed the community's Operation Warmheart fundraising events for the last 10 years. "We contacted Mountain Home Air Force Base because they were the closest active-duty unit to us and told them we wanted to help."

Community residents contributed so much, the 366th FW first sergeants filled an entire 16-foot trailer with the donations.

"The community's donations are very critical to our success," said Master Sgt. Mikel Caraway, 366th Maintenance Operations Squadron first sergeant and Operation Warmheart president. "We have been working with them since 2001. Last year they donated close to $20,000 and at least $11,000 this year. We could not do what we do without their ongoing support."

The donations and supplies are dispersed to military families who may be dealing with financial hardship.

"These types of generous donations also help us fund close to 300 holiday meals at Thanksgiving and Christmas," Caraway said.

Fundraising groups like Silvercrest II and other corporate sponsors are vital to the continued success of Operation Warmheart.

"We just try to give as much as possible and meet the needs of the military personnel," Albers said.