AFAF helps Shaw family Published March 30, 2009 By Master Sgt. Dorothy Goepel 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- Milk, cereal and enough gasoline in the tank to drive back and forth to work are some of the basic necessities we imagine always having. But hardships can change all that. Jessica Henke and her family are one of the Air Force families who faced adversity in their lives and now enjoy a brighter outlook thanks in part to assistance from the Air Force Aid Society. With candor and poise, Ms. Henke stated that her family lived through a period of financial difficulties made more pronounced caring for an 8-year-old, a 5-year-old and a 3-year-old. It was a neighbor who informed Ms. Henke that the Air Force Aid Society offered loans to families during emergencies. The loan Ms. Henke applied for took five minutes to approve, she said. "We literally walked out of the (Airman and Family Readiness Center) in five minutes and walked to the BX," she said. At the Base Exchange, Ms. Henke cashed a check that her family put to use immediately. The loan will be repaid over a period of five years, explained Ms. Henke, who is grateful for the much-needed loan and also the respectful way she and her family were treated. Providing emergency financial assistance is but one way the Air Force Aid Society helps Airmen and their families. As the official aid organization of the Air Force, it is also chartered to operate a range of community programs such as Child Care for Volunteers, Bundles for Babies, Car Care Because We Care, Child Care for PCS, the Give Parents a Break Program and special phone cards for deployed members, according to Master Sgt. John F. Kennedy, acting First Sergeant, 20th FSS, since October 2008, who previously served as superintendent of the Airman and Family Readiness Center. A six-week Air Force Assistance Fund Campaign kicked off on Monday, March 23, with a goal of raising $98,464 for the Air Force Aid Society and other organizations that provide support to Air Force families. "The AFAF Campaign is designed to assist active duty Air Force members, [as well as] retirees and spouses," wrote EMS Munitions Flight Commander Capt. Archie Godwin, the AFAF Campaign installation project officer. "For example, two of the organizations associated with the AFAF, Air Force Village and Air Force Enlisted Village, are specifically geared for the retired community." Included in the active duty category and also eligible for assistance are Reserve and Guard personnel on extended service or who face unique emergencies. "Individuals who would like to contribute (to the AFAF) can do so through their Unit Project Officer using an AF Form 2561 and have the option of a one-time donation or using the payroll deduction plan," Captain Godwin explained. "Individuals can use the PDP option for as little as $1 a month and have the contribution automatically deducted from their pay. All AFAF contributions are tax deductable." The assistance provided to Airmen and their families far exceeds what's collected in a fund campaign, however. "Help is sent wherever it's needed," Sergeant Kennedy pointed out. Each emergency request is handled on a case by case basis, he said, noting that eligibility for assistance is determined by established criteria. Roughly $11 million in direct emergency assistance is typically disbursed each year, often more when faced with disaster response such as hurricane Katrina in 2005, according to an Air Force Assistance Fund brochure. Airmen and their families can seek assistance through Air Force Aid Society sections located in the Airmen and Family Readiness Center at most Air Force bases. If no AFAS office is near, AFAS has cross-servicing assistance agreements with the American Red Cross, Army Emergency Relief and the Navy/Marine Corps Relief Society. Ms. Henke said she sees no reason to conceal her circumstances. "We're all a military family." As part of a military family, Ms. Henke wanted to share her story as a way to support and encourage other families. "If you need help, don't be afraid to ask for it," she said.