Operation Warm-Heart raises funds for upcoming holiday season

Operation Warm-Heart program is dedicated to raising money to benefit the Barksdale Airmen and their families during the holidays and throughout the year. The first sergeants use the donations to provide Airmen in need with commissary gift cards for holiday meals and support the Random Acts of Kindness program. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Jannelle Dickey)

Operation Warm-Heart raises funds for upcoming holiday season

Published Sept. 8, 2014
By Senior Airman Jannelle Dickey
2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs

BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. - -- Barksdale's Operation Warm-Heart annual fundraiser will take place in front of the base commissary during the month of September, Mondays through Fridays from 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

The OWH program grants the First Sergeant's Council the ability to assist Airmen and their families in need of financial assistance. It is a month, long event dedicated to raising money to benefit Airmen during the holidays and throughout the year.

"The program allows the first sergeants and the community to give back, Airmen to help fellow Airmen and unites the Barksdale Community," said Master Sgt. Chad Kraus, First Sergeant's Council president.

In 2013, the program raised over $13,000 and helped approximately 2,000 families.

"Coming up in November and December, we will pick random families at the commissary and give them gift cards that are usually between $25 and $50," said Master Sgt. Mac Ruth, 2nd Comptroller Squadron first sergeant. "We also identify Airmen within units who need assistance and depending on the size of the family; we will give up to $100."

The commissary gift cards help enlisted members to obtain groceries for their holiday meal. The funds remaining after the holiday season are used to give back to Airmen through different avenues.

"Another program that we use the donations for is Random Acts of Kindness," said Kraus. "This program allows the first sergeants to [continually] hand out commissary gift cards to Airmen or pay for their gas at the Shoppette as a way of saying thanks for all they do to support the Barksdale mission."

Individuals can help their fellow Airmen by volunteering to collect donations and/or by contributing funds.

"As first sergeants, we want to make sure everyone is financially stable," said Ruth. "OWH is vital to our base because it's a great resource for Airmen when they have exhausted all other avenues and are still in need of extra help."