BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Family readiness and key spouses from the Health and Wellness Crew prepared meals and received donations to feed Airmen here at the 117th Air Refueling Wing during super drill in August.
The program was initially implemented this past February by key spouse mentor Dr. Debbie Grant to feed the Airmen during the 24-hour operations.
“It just started as giving away food to our Airmen coming in and out of work centers to grab and go,” said Grant. “Now we want to have them show up and have a hot meal prepared.”
The meals were cooked by key spouses and outside military support groups. The 117th Medical Group inspected the food to ensure it was safe for consumption. It was then distributed to units within the 117 ARW a couple days before the four-day unit training assembly along with preparation instructions for heating up the meals.
“We used the meals for lunch and midnight meals for our operations,” said Chief Master Sgt. Trey Hamm, the 117 ARW Command Post Superintendent. “The meals were delicious and the controllers have already been trying to reverse engineer the recipe for one of the casseroles since we have never had anything so good.”
Meals given to Airmen included home-cooked casseroles, brownies and cakes, prepared sandwiches and fresh-cut fruits and vegetables.
“We want to make sure our Airmen are fed, morale is high and they know they have our support,” said Grant. “I think this will now become a tradition.”
The HAWC focuses on the 117 ARW service members and their families. It provides outreach opportunities for the unit and ensures family support and involvement. The crew consists of the following support groups: Yellow Ribbon, family readiness, key spouses, personal financial counselor, chaplain corps, sexual assault response coordinator and department of psychological health.