Operation Warmheart helps families at Thanksgiving

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. April Wickes and Airman 1st Class Vernon Young
  • 1st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. (ACCNS) --  An assembly of volunteers along with members of Langley First Sergeants' Association lined up to fill 575 Thanksgiving baskets with more than $21,000 in food and money donations Nov. 20.

The baskets marked the culmination of Operation Warmheart, a year-round community outreach program, and will be distributed to Langley families in need for Thanksgiving.

"It's great to give back to younger Airmen," said Master Sgt. Michael Frederick, 30th Intelligence Squadron section chief. "It's great to see their expressions when they don't expect it; it's like Christmas - just early."

An expression of that kind came from Airman 1st Class Shanell Howard, who was a recipient of the benevolence.

"It helped out a lot," she said. "I was very thankful and surprised; they showed us all how much they care."

And that's the goal of Operation Warmheart.

"What we are really trying to say with Operation Warmheart is we take care of our own - that's the first sergeants' creed," said Master Sgt. Dennis Westbrooks, 30th Intelligence Squadron first sergeant.