'Random Acts of Kindness', First Sergeants give back

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Anne Gathua
  • 17th Training Wing Public Affairs
GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  For more than 20 service members, July 3 is a day they will never forget.

It was the day Goodfellow first sergeants surprised them with $20 Army and Air Force Exchange Service gift cards as they walked into the Base Exchange.

"This was unexpected," said Airman Elizabeth Campbell, a 316th Training Squadron student. "This is a good example of the Air Force taking care of its people. I feel valued."

The project, dubbed "Random Acts of Kindness" is one of many, that the Goodfellow First Sergeants Council has to benefit the base populace.

"We want everyone to know that projects like this and 'Operation Warmheart' are not just holiday efforts," said Master Sgt. Christopher Norci, 17th Force Support Squadron first sergeant. "Our initiatives exist year round."

Marine Pfc. Joshua Beauvais, Marine Corps Detachment, said it was a pleasant surprise.

"I definitely wasn't expecting it," he said. "It's awesome, they made my day."

Master Sgt. James Baxley, 17th Medical Group first sergeant, said they do projects like this to help service members.

"We want service members to know we are here for them and this is what we do with the money people donate to us," he added. "All we're doing is returning the kindness and we hope to instill the value in younger folks so they can go out and do the same."

Norci said they hope that through these projects, Team Goodfellow will see that we are a military family and are here to encourage and support each other.

Airman 1st Class Shawn Hall, a 316th TRS student, said he felt appreciated.

"It's a very nice, gracious gesture especially for someone as financially challenged as myself," he added.

Norci said this was the second of many more 'Random Acts of Kindness' to come,

"The first one was on Memorial Day," he added. "We were at the base gas station helping to defray a bit of people's holiday gas needs. We surprised 43 service members and we hope we made their day. We look forward to more in the months to come."

The First Sergeants Council would like to thank everyone who contributes to 'Operation Warmheart' and the other initiatives they have throughout the year.

"We couldn't do what we do without the support we get," Norci said. "Rest assured, we return 100 percent of the proceeds back to the people. It is Goodfellow and the community taking care of its own, we are just the facilitators."