Warren's Defenders donate Thanksgiving baskets to local community

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Mike Tryon
  • 90th Missile Wing Public Affairs
F. E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. --  Members of the 90th Security Forces Squadron gave back to the local community Nov. 22, by donating Thanksgiving baskets to several families in need.

"The idea came from Senior Airman Barry Massie and Airman 1st Class Christopher Driskill," said Staff Sgt. Camden Ege both Airmen's supervisor. "They ran it by me, to which I said 'go for it.'"

For the three weeks prior to Thanksgiving Massie and Driskill managed to raise enough for four families to receive baskets. With the money earned, they went to a local grocery store and bought green beans, corn, stuffing and a large turkey. Then they packaged the baskets together and gift wrapped them.

After that was complete, Massie and Driskill contacted the local Salvation Army to get names of some families in need.

The afternoon of Nov. 22, Massie, Driskill, Ege, and their flight commander, 2nd Lt. Dana Lee, met at the Trail's End Club before delivering the baskets.

Of the families receiving baskets, one was a single mother raising her six children; one was an F. E. Warren veteran who retired in the 1970s; one was to a family living without heat, an income or a car; and one was a family of eight living in the basement of a one-bedroom apartment complex.

"This was a very heartwarming experience," said Ege. "It felt nice to do something good for other people. I remember giving the basket to one family and the mother said she didn't know where they were going to get a turkey.

"It was at that moment I realized how much our donations were appreciated," Ege continued. "It felt good to know we made someone else's holiday better."