Commitment to caring Published April 3, 2015 By Tech. Sgt. Austin Knox 17th Training Wing Public Affairs GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- The Air Force Assistance Fund held a cookout event at the Taylor Chapel to help stimulate contributions at the midway point of the 2015 campaign run March 30. According to their website, the AFAF is an annual effort to raise funds for the charitable affiliates that provide support to our Air Force family in need; active duty, retirees, reservists, guard and our dependents, including surviving spouses. "You're going to touch people's lives in a meaningful way," said Tech. Sgt. Jeremiah W. Martin, 315th Training Squadron instructor and AFAF representative. Martin is the 17th Training Wing's most successful AFAF representative this year. He believes the aid he received from the AFAF, when he was a senior airman, has inspired his current fundraising. "I had just pinned on senior airman, and I got a call that grandma was in the hospital and she probably wasn't going to make it out," Martin said. At the time, he did not have the money for a plane ticket home. He went and talked with his first sergeant, who pointed him to the AFAF. "Somebody sat down with me, and I explained what was going on. [Grandma] basically raised me for a good chunk of my early childhood, she was mom and dad all rolled into one," explained Martin, who was given an interest free loan to make the trip. "I showed up at the hospital, grandmother didn't know I was coming. It was the first time she got to see me in my dress-blues." During his visit, his grandma was released from the hospital. Martin got to spend an entire week with her before he had to fly back. Six weeks later, his grandmother passed away. "That turned out to be the last time I got to be with her face to face. For me, personally, it was very rewarding. It was very meaningful for me," said Martin. Goodfellow is accepting donations to the AFAF until April 10. "Life happens to all of us. These programs help us as an Air Force family, make it through some of those hard times. It's near and dear to my heart. Even if you're giving a little, you're giving something. A little multiplied by a lot of people adds up to something that really helps people in their lives," concluded Martin. For more information contact the 17th TRW AFAF installation project officer, Master Sgt. Mathew Freeborn at 325-654-3207.
