AiTs rack up two grand, nearly one ton of goods for flood victims

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Tonnette Thompson
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Airmen-in-Training are well accustomed to military training leaders barking orders at them, whether being told to come to attention, run faster, clean their room, or stop talking.

The order that Airman 1st Class Tina Howell received, however, was unusual. One of her MTLs informed her she was the new POC for the 363rd Training Squadron dormitory's food drive on behalf of the town's flood victims.

So, Airman Howell proceeded to bring the nearly 400 occupants of Mattis Hall together for one common goal: to show Wichita Falls what it means to be a good wingman by bringing in more food than the Airmen Family & Readiness Center would know what to do with.

Airman Howell may have seemed like an unusual choice to spearhead such a large campaign, but the armament student says she's already used to being in command.

"I've been here since December, so long that I've become the head detailer," she said, "so I'm used to telling people what to do."

Airman Howell credits the MTLs for galvanizing the AiTs for the drive as they took every opportunity to goad their charges into viewing the drive as a competition, hallway against hallway, to see who could donate the most. The four male hallways were pitted against each other, while the female hallways combined as one team.

Though it may sound like an unfair advantage for the females, Airman Howell broke down the numbers to reveal quite the opposite.

"There are a lot more males than females," she said. "There are about 300 guys here, but only 60 to 80 girls. Funny thing is, the girls won."

Since the AiTs are dorm-dwellers and don't have much in the way of stockpiled food, the donations were primarily cash-based. While the four male hallways averaged $300 each, the females collected nearly $800 by themselves.

All in all, the 363rd TRS AiTs amassed nearly $2,000.

Airman Howell made the trip to Wal-Mart with the money, buying all the non-perishable goods she could get her hands on. She ended up not only filling her cart, but immediately returning for a second trip. Again her cart overflowed with goods.

"You should've seen the cashiers' faces. I just told them, 'I've got 12 kids.'" Airman Howell said with a smile. "Of course when I told them the truth, they told me I was doing a great thing."

Airman Howell smiled again when she recalled the day the 363rd TRS arrived at the A&FRC with the results of their efforts.

"We just had detail Airmen filing in with box after box. You should've seen them at the center, their jaws were on the floor," she said.

One of the staff at the A&FRC, Tech. Sgt. Erich Lofton, 82nd Mission Support Squadron, also remembers that day.

"I was surprised and shocked," he said. "This will be a huge help to the flood victims, as well as any military member stationed here who's just in tight straits and needs a hand."

Even after supplying the flood victims - several families - with all the food they needed, the A&FRC still has a wealth of food left over from 363rd TRSs contribution.

"Our pantry is still full from all the stuff they brought," he said. "Just to give you an idea, I weighed my truck with all the food in the bed, and it came in at nearly 1,500 pounds."

Capt. James Gardner, 363rd TRS director of operations, is particularly proud of the results the MTLs, AiTs and particularly Airman Howell produced.

"(We) challenged Airman Howell to see if she could motivate the other students in the dorm to initiate their own food drive. Airman Howell ran with the challenge and gained support from the entire student populous," he said. "Their involvement not only supported our local Airmen and families, but it proves how the motivation of one can have a significant impact on many."

Still, Airman Howell insists the recognition wasn't her reward, and even sparking the spirit of fun, friendly competition wasn't the point.

"This was about being a good wingman, and showing the community outside the base what the Air Force means by that," she said. "They needed help, so we stepped up. That's it - no one was looking for how it would benefit us, we just pulled together to do what we can for them."

The food drive is still active. For more information, contact the A&FRC at 676-4358.