Ellsworth provides Thanksgiving meals

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Hrair H. Palyan
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. --  The result of more than three months of planning, preparing and fundraising came to fruition, Nov. 22, when more than 200 Airmen and their families enjoyed free Thanksgiving meals.

Done in conjunction with Operation Warmheart, a national program that provides financial grants to Air Force families, Ellsworth first sergeants started conducting food drives in the Commissary to help assemble food baskets containing everything required to prepare a traditional Thanksgiving meal for junior enlisted Airmen.

"Through the enormous generosity of many commissary patrons and individuals who donated to OW, we were able to put together enough meals for our Airmen," said Master Sgt. Carl Petermann, 28th Security Forces Squadron first sergeant, and OW chairman.

Petermann explained that after the baskets were made, he and other first sergeants began to distribute them to junior enlisted families who would benefit most.

"We didn't use rigid criteria to determine who would receive them, rather we generally knew our people well enough to determine who the best recipients were," Petermann added. "We also solicited names from wing leaders to ensure we didn't miss anyone."

Master Sgt. Stephanie Martinez, 28th Bomb Wing first sergeant, said she is happy with the turnout this year and that the first sergeants greatly appreciated everyone's support.

"Taking care of people is what we do," said Martinez. "The holidays are a joyous time of year, but can also be stressful. We did what we could to help out our fellow Airmen and let them know how much we care about them and their families."