Airmen volunteer time and sweat to help those in need

  • Published
  • By Staff Reports
  • 90th Missile Wing Public Affairs
F. E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. --  Twenty-seven volunteers from the 790th Missile Security Forces Squadron, convoy response force, helped The Colorado Coalition for the Homeless move enough furniture to outfit more than 20 apartment homes July 27.

The Airmen moved truckloads of donated furniture from the Denver Center for Performing Arts to the Coalition's Renaissance West End Flats.

"We wanted to work with the homeless, so I Googled it and came across the Coalition in Denver," said 1st Lt. Ben Joelson, 790th MSFS.

Joelson is responsible for setting up a community service project each month for the Airmen in his unit.

"One of the Air Force core values is 'service before self,' and we just try to give back as much as we can," he added. The unit continued to give back by participating Cheyenne Race for the Cure.

Residents to receive the new furniture are clients of the Coalition, who are formerly homeless families and individuals.

"Having the help of 27 Airmen was a tremendous benefit to our organization and our residents," said BJ Iacino, Director of Education and Advocacy at the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless. "Moving such a large amount of furniture could have taken us days, but with the hard work of these volunteers, we were able to do it in one day."

The donation included large pieces of furniture, which most of these families and individuals could not afford on their own, such as mattresses and box springs; dressers; night stands; dining tables and chairs; desks; coffee tables; bar stools; and lamps. Additionally, the Denver Center for Performing Arts donated a substantial amount of linens, including towels, sheets and pillows.

Editor's note: The mission of the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless is to work collaboratively toward the prevention of homelessness and the creation of lasting solutions for homeless and at-risk families, children, and individuals throughout Colorado. No federal endorsement of sponsors or organizations is intended.