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Operation Warmheart providing warmth, happiness this holiday season

By Airman 1st Class Benjamin Stratton, Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs / Published November 24, 2009

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MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- Operation Warmheart, a year-round program designed to assist Airmen and their families, is gearing up for the holidays.

Warmheart is managed by the First Sergeants Council and supported by volunteers. The Officer's Spouses Club, the Enlisted Spouses Club, the Top-3, the Air Force Sergeants Association and base youth groups are just a few of the many private organizations that assist throughout the year.

"This program is all about us helping each other," said Master Sgt. Ray Bedwell, 5th Force Support Squadron and 5th Bomb Wing first sergeant. "This is what we do, Airmen helping Airmen."

According to Sergeant Bedwell, some of the ways Warmheart helps Airmen is through gift baskets and commissary checks. Last year, Warmheart handed out 182 Thanksgiving baskets. This year, generous Wingmen donated 30 percent more food than last year with an astounding 240 baskets.

"Anything we receive is immediately given back to the Airmen," Sergeant Bedwell said.

All Airmen of all ranks with a need qualifies for a basket.

"An astonishing 2,800 pounds of food was donated this year," Sergeant Bedwell added. "Programs like these are an opportunity for officers and senior noncommissioned officers to help make the holiday season a happy time of year for their troops."

Minot Officers and SNCOs donated all the turkey's donated in the projects baskets.

As the Air Force continues celebrating the "Year of the Air Force Family," Minot Airmen take the given opportunities to help their own.

"There is a food donation box and also a change bin conveniently located at the commissary," said Sergeant Bedwell. "Through the generous support of the MESC, the Officer's Spouses Club and many other local organizations, manpower is not a problem, so probably the best way for people to help is through monetary donations. Anyone who wants to contribute can give the funds to their first shirt. We'll make sure they are put to good use."
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