Team Holloman shows support during the United Way of Otero County Day of Caring

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman DeAndre Curtiss
  • 49th Wing Public Affairs
ALAMOGORDO, N.M. --  More than 600 members of Team Holloman set out into the Tularosa Basin with open hearts and tools in hand in support of the United Way of Otero County Day of Caring May 18.

The day-long event is held annually to help people who have physical and financial limitations with yard and house work.

"The Day of Caring was started to give service back to the community," said Warren Robinson, executive director of the United Way of Otero County. "[It] reminds citizens that there is always someone in need and most likely there are individuals available who can help."

This year, Team Holloman volunteers completed more than 100 requests throughout Alamogordo, Boles Acres, Tularosa, La Luz and Cloudcroft. They worked under the New Mexico sun mowing lawns, trimming bushes, cleaning yards, pulling weeds and painting, while some teams with particular skill sets took on special assignments.

The 49th Materiel Maintenance Group had a team of over 200 people assigned to areas in Cloudcroft, N.M. working on residences that needed their specialized skill set. Members of the 49th Civil Engineer Squadron structures flight replaced all the baseboards of an Alamogordo, N.M., resident's roof.

One team member said despite the strenuous work, the volunteers enjoyed themselves and did not lose the motivation to help.

"The Day of Caring was a lot of hard work, but it was really fun too," said Airman 1st Class Matthew Aucutt, 49th Logistics Readiness Squadron. "It was great working as a team and being able to make such a huge difference for people in need."

Dolores Jones, a recipient who put in a Day of Caring request, is a 74-year-old widow who lost her husband in April 2011.

"I am truly blessed and honored to have these brave service men and women who gave their time to come out and do the things I physically can't," said Jones. "To have people come in and paint my rooms and repair my fence is just amazing, and I want to say thank you to them and the United Way."

The United Way of Otero County and the volunteers have been receiving several phone calls and thank you notes from Day of Caring recipients who appreciated the support from their "neighbors" at Holloman.

"I went to visit some of the job sites and it was great to see the look on the recipients' faces, I saw smiles and tears of joy, and that makes all of the work worth it," said Senior Master Sgt. Rodney Wilson, Day of Caring event coordinator. "The biggest impact of the day has been the gratitude that has been received from the community; I want to thank everybody that came out today."

The Day of Caring impacted the local community not only through helping beautify individual homes, but by nurturing the lasting relationship between Holloman and the surrounding areas.

"The Day of Caring is such an exceptional event, and Team Holloman has always been proud to be involved," said Col. David Krumm, 49th Wing commander. "We have been blessed with so much love and support from this community, this is a wonderful opportunity to repay that favor and do our part by providing our support to those in need."