Volunteers lead children up Mt. Everest

  • Published
  • By Amn. Randahl Jenson
  • 49th Wing Public Affairs Office
HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  Music flooded the sanctuary already brimming with more than 100 excited children. Dancing, singing and clapping, these kids are just getting started on their day of activities prepared by volunteers.

The hours of preparation these volunteers put in are finally paying off.

The Holloman Chapel provides summer vacation bible school for children in the community every year thanks to the work of volunteers.

After the music ends, volunteers in bright orange T-shirts hurry off to their respective stations. The children break into their teams led by a couple volunteers each. Some of the stations include an arts and crafts section, a snack area, an outdoor challenge and a cinema room where the children watch a video of the lesson for that day.

Each team rotates until they have reached every station.

This year's theme, Mt. Everest, took over 30 volunteers, a week of preparation and 150 milk jugs. The plastic cartons were used to build a giant igloo the children could crawl into. The front of the sanctuary held a massive mountain made of painted insulation sheets and paper bags from the commissary. Camping equipment was scattered across the stage as well, giving the expectation of adventure the kids were looking for - an adventure the Air Force wouldn't be able to afford if it wasn't for volunteers.

"Volunteers save the Air Force money," said Yvonne Gomez, lead decorator at the chapel's VBS. "Without them, we wouldn't be able to do things like this."

Gomez has been volunteering with children for nine years, starting at her husband's first duty assignment at Ellsworth AFB, S.D.  Now she volunteers alongside her husband and her 13 year-old son. 

"We do this as a family," said Gomez. "It's our way of giving back to the community."

Some volunteer for other reasons.

Airman 1st Class Justin Miller, a water and fuel systems apprentice with the 49th Civil Engineer Squadron, volunteers to interact with the kids as they enjoy their week. He eventually would like to become a chaplain's assistant.  

"I like being a part of a chapel environment -- assisting wherever I can," said Miller. "I really value what the chapel does."

Miller also regularly volunteers at Refuel, a free coffee bar funded by the chapel for Airman living in the dorms. 

Without volunteers, programs like VBS wouldn't be possible.

"There are many other programs out there that always need volunteers," said Gomez. "The chapel is just one place to look."