Airmen help community during Day of Caring

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Heather Stanton
  • 49th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  Nearly 400 Holloman Airmen and community members went throughout Otero County April 20 to help spruce up the Friendliest Place on Earth in the Otero County United Way sponsored Day of Caring project. 

"The Day of Caring in when the communities comes together and help others in need," said Senior Master Sgt. Edgar Poe, 49th Operations Support Squadron. "We do anything from pulling weeds and mowing yards to performing minor maintenance around the house." 

The people who participate in the Day of Caring help community members who can't do it for themselves, said Ms. Shelley Bailey, executive director for United Way of Otero County. 

Between 95 and 98 percent of the volunteers came from Holloman, said Sergeant Poe. 

The volunteers worked on 57 projects in the county, including some in Cloudcroft and La Luz, said Sergeant Poe. They helped 51 families and eight non-profit organizations, along with other trash clean-up projects in the city/community. 

Seven Airmen from the 49th Civil Engineer Squadron went to the Children in Need of Services offices and pulled up carpet, painted, fixed light switches and much more. 

"It makes me feel good to know I can make a difference in our community by doing this to help the elderly and disabled do what they can't themselves," said Airman 1st Class Tyler Moore, 49th Communications Squadron. 

Airman Moore helped pull weeds and mow the lawn of a local community member. 

Holloman once again showed the people in the local community that it is truly the Friendliest Place on Earth by taking the day to go out into the community and fix it up. 

"It is a great day and we appreciate Holloman," said Ms. Bailey. "We couldn't do this without them."