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AF Assistance Fund campaign extended, provides aid to military, its families

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jake Jacobsen
  • 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs

Columbus Air Force Base’s annual Air Force Assistance Fund campaign has been extended through May 8 due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

This year’s goal is $25,707 and is used for charitable organizations that give much needed support directly to Air Force members in need. The campaign has currently raised $8,604, roughly 33 percent of the total goal.

“No matter how well you plan out things in life, we have seen over the last few weeks how quickly those things can change,” said Capt. Austin Carter, 37th Flying Training Squadron instructor pilot and installation project officer for the base’s AFAF campaign.

The AFAF is the official nonprofit charitable organization of the Air Force. The organization is designed to benefit active-duty, Reserve, Guard, and retired Air Force personnel and their families

“Some people may think that donating a few dollars won’t help, but if everyone on this base donated $2 a month we would raise over $35,000,” Carter said. “Most of us wouldn’t notice a couple dollars missing from our paycheck each month, however someone would notice if they received a couple hundred dollars that they desperately needed.”

Money raised during the AFAF campaign goes directly to four charitable organizations: The Air Force Aid Society, the Air Force Villages Charitable Foundation, the Air Force Enlisted Village, and the General and Mrs. Curtis E. LeMay Foundation.

“The biggest thing I would like for people to know is how much this program helps not only people in the Air Force, but people right here at Columbus AFB,” Carter said. “Last year the Air Force Aid Society allocated over $24,000 to Airmen right here at Columbus AFB.”

For those that would like to donate to the AFAF campaign, they should contact their squadron representative to fill out a contribution form. Key workers in each unit will accept donations during the campaign via payroll deductions, or through cash, check or money order.

“No donation is too small when giving to the AFAF and by donating you are helping others that may be experiencing an extreme hardship,” said Master Sgt. Vanessa Jordan, the 14th Operational Medical Readiness Squadron Aerospace Physiology Flight section chief of Standards and Evaluations and the installation project officer for the base’s AFAF campaign. “Donating has been made simple by only taking five minutes of your time, combined with your selfless donation, to change the lives of others.

For further information please visit the AFAF website at www.afassistancefund.org. For further information, contact your group POC.