Desert Lightning Enlisted Spouses Association donates $2,000 to the Air Force Enlisted Village

  • Published
  • By Senior Master Sgt. Jon Nicolussi
  • 355th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  The Desert Lightning Enlisted Spouses Association presented the 355th Fighter Wing Command Chief Master Sgt. Thomas P. Schwenk with a check for $2,000 to be donated to the Air Force Enlisted Village here at the Mirage club. 

Chief Schwenk hand delivered the check to Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force #9 James Binnicker at the World Wide Senior Enlisted Summit held at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. Chief Binnicker is the president and CEO of the Air Force Enlisted Village, located in Fort Walton Beach, Fla. 

According to their Web site, "the Air Force Enlisted Village was founded in 1967 to provide a safe, secure and dignified place for indigent surviving spouses of retired Air Force personnel." 

The Village's primary goal is to provide a home and financial assistance to these men and women. Surviving spouses with the greatest needs are cared for first, and no one is refused assistance. 

The Desert Lightning Enlisted Spouses Association has been making charitable donations for several years, and for many years now, they have supported the Air Force Enlisted Village. 

The president of the Enlisted Spouses Association, Mrs. Christine Gemma, said that the group was looking for ways to do more for the community and they were very happy to make this donation to the Air Force Enlisted Village. 

"We are interested in taking care of not only the enlisted Airmen, but their spouses too," said Mrs. Gemma. 

Chief Schwenk lauded the association for their contribution. 

"Whenever I think of the Desert Lightning Team Enlisted Spouse Association, I think it is a great opportunity to get out of the house, meet other people and have a sense of esprit de corps, learn about our Air Force and do good things for other people," said the chief. 

To learn more about the Air Force Enlisted Village, visit http://www.afenlistedwidows.org.