Annual bake sale helps spread holiday cheer

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Kristin Kurtz
  • 459th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. --  For most people, the holidays are among one of the happiest times of the year. The sounds of a coworker singing along to seasonal music and the sights of decorations can immediately bring cheer into one's life.

For some, delight comes from making other people smile.  Many people have no problem shelling out hundreds of dollars for gifts if it means joy for loved ones; this is the "season of giving."

That holiday cheer has spread to the 459th Air Refueling Wing as they enjoy unit parties this unit training assembly weekend. 

But not everyone is overjoyed about the holidays.

For some Airmen, December can be stressful and downright depressing if they feel financially strapped to provide for their families in a time of need.

This is where the 459th Airman and Family Readiness Center and the Key Spouse Program come in.

For the past six years these two organizations have hosted a bake sale to raise money for Airmen in need.

"The Airman and Family Readiness Center in addition to the key spouses from all the units within the 459th have come together to host this year's baked goods sale with donations ranging from the Maintenance Group to First Sergeant's Group as well as several others," said Master Sgt. Kelly Sobieski, 459 AFRC, NCO in charge. "The funds raised from the event will be given to the first sergeants of each unit to buy gift cards to give to the Airman they have selected who are in need."

The Airmen then have the discretion to use the gift cards to buy various house hold items or to buy gifts for their families.

"I think this is a great opportunity for everyone in the wing to pull together and help our family," said Debbie Smith, 459th key spouse mentor of the wing-specific event.

"It helps Airmen to be aware of their wingmen and gives them the opportunity to take care of one another in their time in need," Smith said.

Donations are not designated just to the bake sale.

"One of the other ways we are helping our fellow Airmen is by taking donations in our office throughout the year," said Sobieski. "Airmen can also help out by getting their spouses involved in the key spouse program because we are also in need of volunteers."

So while the holiday season brings cheer for some and added stress for others, this event, like many others around the 459th, is a reminder of an important piece of the Airman's Creed: "I will never leave an Airman behind."