Asking the question: SFS helps local families

by Staff Sgt. Katie Gar Ward
633rd Air Base Wing Public Affairs

12/12/2012 - JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. -- As he drove through local neighborhoods, he noticed that despite the chill in the air, neighborhood children were riding bicycles and playing outside without wearing coats.

He stopped his vehicle, got out and asked one of the children why.

"I don't own one," the child said. The reply bothered the man, leaving him with a strong desire to help the local children.

This need for basic items prompted Staff Sgt. Justin Olson, 633rd Security Forces Squadron Community Policing patrolman, to head up a coat drive to benefit the local community, which ran from Oct. 1 through Nov. 30. More than 200 coats and miscellaneous clothing items were collected and donated to Hampton Roads Ecumenical Lodgings and Provision, or "H.E.L.P," Incorporated.

Although this isn't the first time 633rd SFS has hosted a coat drive, Olson said it's been the most successful year, due to a change in collection strategy. Collection boxes were placed at multiple locations throughout Bethel Housing, instead of at one central location as in years past.

"This year we brought the drop-off locations to the people," said Olson. "People were even moving and said they had coats to donate, so we would go to people's houses and pick up the coats. The fact that we made it so easy to donate is what really brought us to success."

In addition to collecting coats and other clothing items, this year the drive also included books and magazines. That portion of the drive ran from Nov. 1 through Nov. 20, and garnered more than 200 donations, which will be given to local schools and the U.S.O.

Not only does a drive like this benefit local families, it is also a way to reach out to the community, said Tech. Sgt. Jerard Holton, 633rd Security Forces Squadron noncommissioned officer in charge of Community Policing at Bethel Housing.

"Our job is the community itself," Holton said. "Our primary focus is the security of the residents out here, the base and this extension of the base. Secondary to that is actually making contact with the community, being involved with everyone out here and trying to branch out to other parts of the community outside of Bethel Housing."

According to Olson, coordinating a collection has a lasting effect on the surrounding community, and is a great way to foster relationships.

"The more we help out our community around us, the deeper roots we set in with the community and the civilians that support the base," he said. "It's a good tool."

No matter how big or small the donation is, Holton said anything a person could give would make world of difference to a family in need, and in turn, benefit the community as a whole.

"We give back to the community outside the military family," said Holton. "They then give back to the folks within our community. It's a big circle, and we encourage people to get involved in the circle and pay it forward."

As seen through the efforts of the 633rd Security Forces Squadron Community Policing team, asking a question and caring enough to follow-through with the answer can spark an initiative to benefit hundreds of local families. This strengthens the relationship between military and civilian communities, and ensures everyone stays warm this winter.