Agencies, volunteers team up for Fisher House food drive

  • Published
  • By Christin Michaud
  • Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  The USO, Friends of the Fallen and commissary officials came together for a Fisher House for Families of the Fallen food drive Jan. 29-30.

More than 300 shoppers and 35 volunteers helped make the food drive successful by bringing in close to 100 packages of bottled water, 85 pounds of coffee and more than 500 individual-sized boxes of cereal among other items with a total value of $4587.72.

"I'm very pleased with the outcome," said Defense Commissary Agency at Dover Air Force Base Lisa Serrano, store director. "We teamed up together and made it happen."

Ms. Serrano initially proposed the idea of a food drive to the USO as well as the Friends of the Fallen, a volunteer organization which helps lift families who have lost a loved one. Her goal was to find away to help and help educate patron's about what's happening on base.

There are people in the community who know fallen servicemembers come back through Dover AFB, but don't know how to help, explained Ms. Serrano.

Nancy Roy, volunteer from the local community has lived in Dover all her life and feels a connection to the base.

"I remember when it was built," she said.

The Friends of the Fallen volunteer first got involved with her church by baking cookies which are used at the Center for Families of the Fallen where families and friends of fallen servicemembers gather before going out to the flightline to see their loved ones transferred.

Because families are only here for a short time, and a dignified transfer can happen at any time of day, most families never leave the campus area that houses the Fisher House and CFF, explained Wendy Fish, USO Families of the Fallen Support Manager.

A homemade cookie or lending an ear is what the volunteers do to give back.

The food drive allowed other people to give back as well. Especially, people who may have wanted to contribute in some way, but didn't know how.

"This is an avenue for all our patrons to get involved," said Ms. Serrano. "A can of soup or coffee can warm the hearts of one person or many."

It can warm the heart of a mother who just lost her son and in the midst of grief is reminded that American's care and mourn her loss with her. The Fisher House is the closest to a home away from home for families who make the trip to see their loved ones arrive on U.S. Soil. It doesn't have all the comforts of home, but what it does have all comes from donations.

"The generous support of the Dover community is just one small way to support the families in what may be the most difficult time in their life," said Mrs. Fish.

All of the items donated during the food drive have been inventoried and are in a pantry at the Fisher House. That bottle of water, cup of coffee or bowl of cereal is one less thing for a family suffering loss to worry about.