Building community through coffee

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Joseph A. Pagán Jr.
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  Recently, more than 45 coffee makers, 25 pallets of coffee and 1,000 mugs were donated to the base chapel.

Coffee may be an uncommon way to foster fellowship, but in the hands of a chaplain, it can bring the community closer while providing ministry.

"[Holy Joe's Café] wanted to take care of the chapel," said Capt. Kennie Neal, 2nd Bomb Wing chaplain corps. "In return, our goal is to take care of the Airmen, minister to the them and bring them together as a community."

A calling card was placed on each coffee maker in hopes that people would see it and reach out to their chaplain.

"By placing this sticker and spreading the coffee makers throughout the command we broaden our footprint," Neal said. "Everyone will know if they need anything, they can call us. It's part of our way of giving back, and we're going to use it to draw people to one location where they all come inside, drink coffee and have fun."

When everyone has congregated over a cup of coffee, that's when the magic will happen, Neal said.

"We'll be able to sit down, get to know one another and converse openly," he added. "We can use this time to discuss our struggles and offer proper channels to help them cope."

This is the first donation Barksdale received of its kind, and the chaplains and their staff want this to resonate with everyone on base.

"Doing something positive, even if it's not in a religious manner, will have a positive and lasting impact," said Senior Airman Lonnie Thomas, 2nd BW chaplain assistant. "Whenever you have an opportunity to pay it forward, you have to act on it. The seed that has been planted can potentially change the life of someone you've never met."