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Airmen for Children expands to Beale

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Chuck Broadway
  • 9th Reconnaissance Wing Public Affairs
BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (AFNS) --  Staff Sgt. Jewell Hicks has been fulfilling a boyhood promise to a disease-stricken friend for more than two years now.  

The Airmen for Children program is a volunteer activity where uniformed military members and civilians visit local children's hospitals to interact with sick children.

Sergeant Hicks started the program at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., and it has spread to several other bases within the Air Force.

The objective of Airmen for Children differs from many volunteer organizations. Some  groups  mentor children through whatever pain and hardships they are encountering and help them through it. Sergeant Hicks said his program is the opposite.

"Our mission is to simply take their minds off of whatever illnesses they may be experiencing and brighten their day," he said. "If we can do that, we're making a difference."

Airmen for Children volunteers are scheduled to visit the Shriners Children's Hospital, the University of Central California Davis hospital and the Ronald McDonald House, all in Sacramento, Calif. Eventually, they plan to visit local schools and other children's homes.

When visiting the children, the group plays games, decorates crafts or cookies, holds ice cream socials and other activities the children would like to participate in.

 Once the apprehension of the first visit is over, Sergeant Hicks said the children look forward to their visits, and it's the highlight of their day.

"These kids are confined to their rooms all day, and some have never seen someone in uniform before," he said. "Once they're used to us, it's fun times, and we're kind of known as their 'GI Joes' when we go there."

Sergeant Hicks said anyone who volunteers with the program receives a great sense of accomplishment and he has never had a person walk out of the hospitals who hasn't told him it was one of the best experiences they've ever had.

"It's a rewarding and humbling experience," Sergeant Hicks said. "I know my friend is looking down and he'd be proud of what I've done."

In addition to the visiting hospitals, Sergeant Hicks has several toy and back-to-school drives planned for Airmen for Children.