LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. –
Turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce. For most this paints the image of a traditional Thanksgiving meal.
This year Operation Warm Heart provided more than 400 Thanksgiving meals for Langley families in need.
"Thanksgiving is a time to come together as a family," said Brig. Gen. Mark Barrett, 1st Fighter Wing commander. "I've been in the Air Force 28 years and all the friends and acquaintances I've made over the years are my Air Force family - my extended family. It's a good feeling when we help take care of them."
Along with base volunteers, the Langley First Sergeants' Association collected approximately 11,000 food items for the Warm Heart program and raised more than $20,000, which will support Airmen in need year round. Additional donations of 400 cans and more than 400 pounds of food were given to the Peninsula Food Bank.
If a family comes into a crisis any time during the year, such as having their car break down, Operation Warm Heart can help out by providing a monetary grant.
"It blesses my soul that we can take care of our Airmen," said Master Sgt. Michael Dyer, 1st Aircraft Maintenance Unit first sergeant.