Family to Family program continues tradition

Eileen Byrd, 116th Family Support Coordinator, organizes goods that will be given out to needy families through the 116th Family-2-Family program. (Photo by Tech. Sgt. Timothy Neville)

By 2nd Lt. Sarah Meinecke
116th Air Control Wing Public Affairs

Robins AFB, GA, Dec. 19, 2007 -- Boxes filled with food and presents sat in a warehouse on Robins Air Force Base waiting to be doled out to about 200 needy

families in both the military and the surrounding community.

Between the boxes and tables were volunteers and organizers that were lending a much-needed hand to the Family-2-Family program that the 116th Air Control Wing has sponsored for more than a decade.

But as big an undertaking as Family-2-Family already is, there are plans to expand the program to a base-wide event next year, and help all families at Robins.

“It’s going to expand to be bigger and better,” said Maj. Gwen Taylor, who was instrumental in bringing Family-2-Family to the 116th. “It’s so daunting, so exciting. We’ve never done it before, so we are looking forward to it.”

Plans were already underway to form a Board of Directors for Family-2-Family, with membership representing organizations base-wide. That first meeting took place Dec. 13. But, before Taylor, and 116th Family Support Coordinator, Eileen Byrd, can worry about expansion, they have to complete the task at hand. That involves making sure all of the boxes of goods are ready for distribution to the various families participating in the program.

The program started 12 years ago for the purpose of helping families in need during the holiday season. This year, nearly 200 families from the two local schools systems around Robins and within the military, will be receive boxes that contain food, clothing and toys.

“It’s a great feeling,” said Taylor, of helping out the various families. “It’s the only program I know of (where you) get immediate gratification from helping someone.”

On Dec. 14, first sergeants and unit commanders presented the gift boxes to the members of the military who were recommended by those same people. The military members remain completely anonymous, while the volunteers got to see the joy the program brought when the boxes were delivered to the schools Dec. 18.

While unit commanders and first sergeants are in charge of providing names of those who could benefit from Family-2-Family, it is the school system that offer names for community members in need.

“To see the faces when we drive up, I have seen principals cry,” said Maj. Taylor, of delivering to the schools.

Brig. Gen. Tom Moore, 116th Air Control Wing commander, unloads a truck filled with donations from the Macon Food bank. The donations will be given to needy families through the Family-2-Family program. (Photo by Tech. Sgt. Timothy Neville)

But getting to that point is a huge undertaking — starting in October, with the official kickoff of the event. By the UTA in December, Family-2-Family wraps up and the task of sorting through the large quantities of donated food, clothing and presents begins.

As the end neared, however, Taylor, Byrd and a host of volunteers had everything ready for delivery.

“This is the biggest (Family-2-Family) to date,” Ms. Byrd said.

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