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Show liiiBSiSist December 9,..t999.'.. 1 by Mary Galbraith Hilltop Times staff The 75th Air Base Wing and 388th Fighter Wing have combined resources and are looking for 1,000 dozen cookies. Joni Page and Katherine Hostage decided to combine their cookie drive efforts this year to ensure all dorm residents and deployed personnel receive a bag of cookies. "We're asking the whole Hill AFB community to get involved whether they're active duty or civilian, dependents, retired, grandparents or children," said Hostage. Drop-of- f is from a.m., Tuesday at the Enlisted Club. There will be a curbside service so people dropping off 7-- 11 If Mh 1 cookies don't have to get out of their car. People on their way to work or with kids in car seats can hand cookies to the volunteers while sitting in their car. Hostage said this process speeds up things for volunteers who use an assembly line process once cookies are delivered to quickly package assortments so they're delivered or mailed fresh to airmen and deployed members. All cookies will be delivered Tuesday by first shirts and commanders, depending on schedules. Hill Field Elementary students are decorating the cookie bags. Hostage said this further fosters the extended Air Force family feeling. "A lot of these guys don't have family near by, and because of duty or financial circumstances are required to stay here through the holidays," said Hostage. "Usually we think of this time of year as a big family time arid this is a way for our Air Force family to come together and help them feel remembered and special at the holidays. It makes you feel good to be the giver as well as the recipient especially at the holidays." Carole Beasley, Family Support Center point of contact for the cookie program, said the cookie drive is a great - r oa Photos by Mary Galbraith Thomas Giovingo and Alyssa Hopper, both 9, were busy coloring Christmas decorations on cookie bags that will be delivered to Hill personnel in Emily Tanner's 4th grade class at Hill Field Elementary. " Michael Has, 11, right, works on a Christmas tree. opportunity for someone who doesn't have time to vol- unteer time outside the home durmg the busy holiday season to do something for their community "I can bake cookies with kids crawling all over me. Ifs riot something I have to leave my house to do," she said. Any extra cookies will go to people who are working over the Christmas holiday. "Everybody is usually willing to do a lot at Christmas," said Hostage. "We want to make sure all our military members are remembered at the holidays." In addition to cookies, the Family Support Center is collecting toys in new or good used condition for the Airman's Attic Christmas Party. Volunteers and Santa will be at Saturday's party Larger items will be raffled off. Each family that comes will be given a ticket they can use for the large item drawing. Every child will leave with ; J , something. The 388th Fighter Wing will also participate in an angel tree with 70 adopted families that have been identified as base families in need. "By adopting some ofthese kids we hope to let some of that Operation Warmheart money be spread around even further because we're taking some of the burden off them," said Hostage. "If s great because it gives us a chance to be personally involved. You feel like you know this child because of information given on the card . I think ifs a wonderful way to help families feel connected" Hostage said she's involved her children in the program before and they've enjoyed picking out toys and items for other children. For details on either program, contact the Family Support Center, Bldg. 308N, at Ext Program n ks f a u n ity. su pport Ii is they think the cue code is going to ruin by Mary Galbraith Hilltop Times Field Elementary from 5:30-7:3- 0 p.m. The party's primary goal is to acquaint families who are dealing with similar dis- their career," said Capt.. Robert Brooks. "Thaf s not the case at all. Ifs really just to staff When the military transfers personnel tell us, Tiey, are there services for this famfrom one base to another, in many cases ily at the next base?' If a member goes to an entire family is making the move to the another base and the services aren't there v new area. then you have a stressed out member and One Air Force organization responsible a stressed outfamily...We knowthat if you for ensuring requirements of special needs keep a family happy, you're going to have ' family members are met when they process a happy service member.": : at their new duty station is the Exceptional r r Brooks is part of a team that recently Family Member Program. EFMP staff took charge of Hill's EFMP. work with special needs children, link-.,- , "We've met a lot of people in the last with them so two months," said Brooks. "One of the ing community services, they're ready for school and also meet things we've found is people who are here needs of personnel whose spouse may have and have handicapped children or spouses cancer, heart disease, a psychiatric prob- - with a disability are saying we've; been ., lem or other chronic illness. v ,r . through; all the school fights and all If a military member has a family mem- - , those problems we'd love to be conber with an impairment or condition that tacted. The advantage to a stateside cen-- ; qualifies them as a special needs individter like Hill is being able to put together ual, the military member must register support groups mainly run by the families with EFMP and the family is given a cue themselves." , ; , code. Cue codes alert EFMP staff when This is an important EFMP distinction. the member is given orders to their next ; They link families to support groups in the duty station. EFMP personnel go to community serving as a liaison: between work verifying the needs of the family mem-be-r the support group, information or service will be available at the next base v and the family. To help further relawithin a radius. If the needs are tionships and networking among not met, the orders are void. : ? V Hill EFMP members, they're is host- "One of the fears for military members ": ing a Christmas party Dec. 20 at Hill abilities. : : " , -- -- Hill AFB Today Friday 5-- day weather outlook c ; : Saturday r can lead to neglect and abuse," said Brooks. "This money is to say, 'Here, go out on a date.' If they're happier, the child is happier and Air Force Morale is higher. If s all connected." White said EFMP personnel can often-spo- t trouble areas in advance and provides programs that help families cope with stress and those programs will be discussed at the party. Several information booths will be set up. Arts and crafts, cookie decorating, an honor guard program, visit from Santa Claus and other activities will all be available at the par ty with volunteers taking care of the childcare so parents have a chance to talk with EFMP staff. First sergeants and commanders will also attend. Because Santa will bring gifts, so an estimated headcount is requested. To sign up or for details, call Ext. Capt. Kyle Green from the base legal office will also be available to answer questions. Hell give a briefing and bring hand- outs. Anyone with specific questions they'd like answered can call Green at Ext Sunday Monday f 33, High 37Q High 6s Low 249 Low 25s Low oiouay ana snowy Partly V : w.iin,. '"ZT?:??? ; j i1High 1 . - . ! 50-mi- le "What we've found here as we've been interviewing is they're saying things like, We didn't know anyone else here had autistic children on the base.' We found about 1 17 autistic kids living with families on base, 7 and none of these people had ever met each other before. Howmany more are out there that we don't know about," Brooks said. When families do link up they're eager to share resources and lend a hand. Another party goal is discovering what challenges face these families and how the EFMP pro- gram can be enhanced. Party networking isn't just for family members. EFMP per-sonnel will be actively taking notes on services that are available in the community many families currently use. A1C Mark White said the party is an opportunity for families with special needs members to get registered with the cue code system and find out more about the program. In addition to linking families up with community servicesmaking people aware of base programs like respite care is a top priority. Respite care, funded by i the Air Force Aid Society, provides fami- -. lies with qualified care for a special : ; : needs family member. "Ifs really to give the parent time to do whatever it is they want to do. Constant care causes a lot of stress on family members and they can lose control so we're here, in part, to prevent burn out which increasing cloud a & $ j 34Q m r ftwi WwS 36Q High 35s High 18 Low 21 9 Low Mostly Partly" cloudy; cloudy t |