News>Sergeant's Association tackles two service projects this summer
Story at a Glance
• Members of AFSA Chapter 1360 have been collecting bikes for needy children and repairing the homes of the low-income elderly • "Volunteering is woven into the fabric of who we are as Airmen and as a chapter." --Tech. Sgt. Dean Cardenas, President, AFSA Chapter 1360
Photos
Tech. Sgt. Dean Cardenas (left) and Tech. Sgt. Isias Lara prepare to deliver two bicycles to the children living at the Path of Life Ministries shelter, July 14, 2011. The shelter is located on former March Air Force Base property. Cardenas is the president of Air Force Sergeant's Association Chapter 1360, based at March Air Reserve Base, Calif. (Courtesy photo)
An elderly woman watches as volunteers from the 452nd Air Mobility Wing and 362nd Recruiting Squadron repaint her home during a service project July 16, 2011. Air Force Sergeant's Association Chapter 1360 organized the project. The chapter is based at March Air Reserve Base, Calif. (Courtesy photo)
by Capt. Georgeann Hassell
362nd Recruiting Squadron
10/3/2011 - MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE, Calif. -- For many children, summer time is synonymous with days at the beach, barbeques and bike rides. School work is out of sight, out of mind, and having fun is the only thing on their to-do list.
Tech. Sgt. Dean Cardenas, local Air Force Sergeant's Association Chapter 1360 president, and Tech. Sgt. Isaias Lara, AFSA trustee, looked for positive ways to impact the base community and decided to center efforts at the Path of Life Ministries shelter, which is located on former March Air Force Base property. The two formed a team of volunteers to make summer fun a reality for the children living at the shelter.
"When we visited the shelter, we saw 70 children were sharing just three bikes," Cardenas said. "We saw this as an opportunity to make a big difference in a kid's life."
Almost immediately, they started a Bike-for-Kids drive hoping to make this childhood dream come alive for the shelter's children. So far, they have donated eight bikes to the children and continue to receive more every month, and they have also created a repair center to put used bikes back into optimal working condition.
"The smile on the children's faces as they ran up to the bikes was something truly special and very rewarding," Cardenas said.
Chapter 1360 is also changing lives across town. This past July, Tech. Sgt. Jennifer Dobrowolsky, AFSA chapter secretary, organized a Habitat for Humanity event in Riverside. Thirty-five members of the 452nd Air Mobility Wing and the 362nd Recruiting Squadron and their families refurbished two mobile homes for elderly and low income residents.
"It was the biggest turnout to date," said Kathy Michalak, Habitat for Humanity coordinator.
Under the direction of Cardenas, AFSA Chapter 1360 has made a lasting impact on the community in a short amount of time, and the chapter has plans to continue various volunteer events throughout the year.
"Volunteering is woven into the fabric of who we are as Airmen and as a chapter," Cardenas said. "In whatever way, shape or form we can better the community we will do so."
Interested personnel are welcome to join Chapter 1360 at their monthly lunchtime meetings at the Hap Arnold Club.
