Team Goodfellow supports children with special needs

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Erica Rodriguez
  • 17 Training Wing Public Affairs
GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Team Goodfellow members volunteered at the 35th annual West Texas Rehabilitation Center Summer Camp, June 18, in an effort to give special needs children a lasting summer memory.

"Goodfellow has supported the West Texas Rehabilitation Center for the last 15 years by providing functional activities and demonstrations," said 2nd Lt. Frederick Freeman.
"Every year, the West Texas Rehab Center hosts a camp for special needs children. The event is designed support children with special needs by creating a fun and interactive experience at the camp."

Laura Gillis, the camp owner, runs the camp which she says has been in her family for many years.

"It started 35 years ago because a lot of these kids, due to medical conditions, could not go to other camps," said Gillis. "My parents wanted to create a camp for these kids to come to, regardless of their medical or financial situation."
Goodfellow has become directly involved with the camp within the last four years.

"The base Honor Guard presented the colors with our National Anthem and Pledge of Allegiance," said Freeman. "Members from the 344th Army Military Intelligence Battalion provided a paintball demonstration with a vehicle for interaction and the Goodfellow fire department provided a fire truck for the kids to interact with."

Volunteers from the base also came out before the camp began to prepare the property for the event, removing any trees or bushes that could potentially get in the way or cause harm and providing many safety repairs.

"I can hardly put into words how much it means to me," said Gillis. "The kids just loved the servicemen and women. They worked so well with the children, letting them climb into the trucks and play with the equipment and letting them shoot the paintball guns."

Freeman says Goodfellow strives to be involved within the San Angelo community in any way possible.

"The camp is a great opportunity for Goodfellow to show our support to the community. This year we were able to support and engage 85 children at the camp."

Gillis hopes that Goodfellow will continue to provide support for the West Texas Rehabilitation Center at next year's camp.