Taking care of us Published April 14, 2017 By Capt Jonathan Harris 14th Operations Support Squadron COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- The Air Force Assistance Fund gives TeamBlaze the chance to contribute to the greatergood of their local Air Force community.“Even though a lot of people think AirForce Assistance Fund and the CombinedFederal Campaign are similar or maybe eventhe same, they are extremely different,” said1st Lt. Jack Neilan, 37th Flying TrainingSquadron. “AFAF is a chance to help our ownbranch, base and family. It could be helpingthe Airman living next door or the widowyou sit next to at church. When we donateto AFAF, we know the money will help takecare of us – which really hits home.”The AFAF is an annual effort to raisefunds for the charitable affiliates that providesupport to our Air Force family in need (activeduty, retirees, reservists, guard and ourdependents, including surviving spouses).The charitable affiliate organizations providesupport in an emergency, with educationalneeds, or a secure retirement home for widowsor widowers of our Air Force members inneed of financial assistance. Each individualwho donates has four options they can selectfrom; AFAF representatives do not endorseone over another.The first option is the Air Force Aid Societywhich has helped Airmen and theirfamilies in times of need since 1942. It maybe for an everyday expense like a utility bill,something far more unexpected like theneed to fly home for a family funeral, or arequest for a special piece of medical equipmentto improve the quality of life for a disabledchild. Whether your emergency is bigor small, AFAS is there to help — in 2015alone, the society was able to support over15,000 emergency cases totaling $8.1 million.Next is the Air Force Village, founded in1970. The AFV is a retirement communitywith the core charitable mission to care forretired Air Force Officers’ widowed spouseswho need financial assistance. The AFVprovides a secure, comfortable environmentwhere widows are surrounded by friends in ahome they cannot provide for themselves.Similarly, the Air Force Enlisted Villagemission is simple: to provide a home. Establishedin 1975, the AFEV ensures that survivingspouses of retired enlisted airmen arenot living in less than desirable conditions orhomeless. The AFEV also serves the mothersof active duty and retired airmen and providestemporary housing to surviving spousesof enlisted members who die while on activeduty.Finally, there is the LeMay Foundation,founded by General and Mrs. Curtis LeMay,which awards grants to enlisted and officerretirees’ surviving spouses. In 2015, LeMayFoundation gave over $6,000,000 in assistancethat benefitted widows with monthlygrants to augment incomes that fall belowthe poverty line and it also provided onetimegrants to assist with needs like hearingaids, dental care, and minor home repairs.The 2017 Air Force Assistance Fund campaignwill run until May 5. For more informationor to donate, please contact Capt.Jonathan Harris at jonathan.harris.15@us.af.mil or Staff Sgt. Shaylah McKinney-Jonesat shaylah.mckinney_jones@us.af.mil. Additionally,each group and squadron also hasits own project officer who can provide anyassistance you might need.