Op Thanksgiving underway; looking for host families to sponsor students

  • Published
  • By Dan Hawkins
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  The 82nd Training Wing chapel staff is preparing to host Operation Thanksgiving for the 36th consecutive year on Nov. 22.

The chapel is looking for approximately 250 families to sign up as sponsors to host Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors, and/or Marines on Thanksgiving Day. Many of the 4,000 plus students on Sheppard have never been away from home before and can use a time of fellowship with a temporary family-for-a-day.

"I was able to personally take part in this event when I was a young Airmen trainee back in 1996," said Chaplain (Capt) Patrick Moore, Operation Thanksgiving organizer. "It was the highlight of my training experience!"

Operation Thanksgiving sponsorship is open to everyone: permanent party, civilian, instructors and military training leaders can participate in this year's great event.

Last year, 648 students were partnered with 204 military and civilian families from around the local area.

"We expect this year's total number of participating students to be even higher than last year," Moore said. "It's such a wonderful opportunity for the community and our students to interact with one another and share in fellowship."

If you have questions or you and your family wish to be a host family sponsor this year, please call the chapel at 676-0014 or 676-4370 to sign up by 4:00 p.m. on Friday, November 16th.

Civilian families from Wichita Falls, Iowa Park and Burkburnett are all welcome to take part in this event. Please be aware that civilians without base access identification cards who wish to sponsor students must sign-up by or before Nov. 8.

This program is open to all Air Force, Army, Navy and Marine students. All students who want to participate in the program, regardless of service, need to sign up through their unit MTL's.