Center Helps Army Families In Need Near Las Cruces

White Sands Missile Range's
Army Community Service is the one-stop shop for military and civilian
families in need during the holiday season.
From holiday meals, to holiday photos, ACS has ensured that every family
within the WSMR community has the resources they need for a joyous holiday
season each year.  WSMR ACS Coordinator Damaris Sullivan-Powe, who is in
charge of two of the most prominent programs during the holiday season, said
the acts of kindness have always been possible through the help of the
giving community.
"We definitely live in a generous community and we're very fortunate,"
Sullivan-Powe said.
Two of the most popular programs at ACS are Holiday Helping Hands, which
help provide one free meal to families during the holiday season, through
the help of food donations from the community, and the Angel Tree, which
asks the community to donate gifts to children of families who applied for
assistance.
"The holidays can be a very painful time for those that might not be as
fortunate as others," said WSMR ACS Director Patsy Gomez. "We are lucky at
WSMR, to have so many people who do genuinely care about and want to bring a
little holiday cheer to a less fortunate Family. I have a long list of
individuals I know I can count on, and I have done so each year, to make
sure everyone gets the help they need."
There were 59 families who applied for assistance this year and there are
103 children in the Angel tree. In 2015 there were 105 children in the Angel
Tree. Sullivan-Powe said she suspects the number still remained high in
spite of the 2nd Engineer Battalion departure because the installation now
has a small increase of Air Force and Army families who are making use of
the programs.
ACS also provides Christmas trees to military families, thanks to the
assistance provided by WSMR Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. Bill Wofford, who
travels to Fort Bliss, Texas to pick up the trees and deliver them to ACS.
Families can call and sign-up for a tree until Dec. 12. There are currently
29 people signed up for Christmas trees, the trees are on a
first-come-first-serve basis.
"Just call and we'll put your name on the list," Sullivan-Powe said.
In connection with Military Family Appreciation Month, ACS also offered free
holiday family photo sessions in November with the help of a volunteer
photographer. This year Tanya Weismann, WSMR McAfee Commander's spouse and
professional photographer, volunteered to take the photos. Gomez said they
may be able to add additional photo sessions if there is a request from the
community.
In 2014 the 2nd Engineer Battalion provided an immense amount of assistance
by conducting their own toy collection and donated all of the toys to ACS.
Sullivan-Powe said the toys were used as stocking stuffers for Angel Tree
children. However, she said even though they do not have that support this
year, there are still plenty of giving individuals on post that will help
fill the battalion's void.
"We're going to do what we have to do to make sure each child has something
to open," she said.
Every program is run through donations and Sullivan-Powe takes on the
coordination as an additional duty. She said the events are always possible
through the assistance of anonymous donors, the local Association of the
United States Army, the WSMR Fire Department, McAfee U.S. Army Health
Clinic, the Air Force, Resources Management and WSMR employees like Laura
Long who makes Christmas treats for each family every year. She said the
Post Chapel always assists with monetary donations. In 2015 the chapel
provided the largest donation ACS has ever received. WSMR Child Youth and
School Services also provides their assistance by making stockings and
stocking stuffers for the children in the program.
Resource Management takes the time to help sort food and gifts as a team
building exercise for the office. She said the ACS office also provides an
immense amount of support for each program.
"To me, Holiday Helping Hands is one of the best things TEAM WSMR does,"
Gomez said.
Sullivan-Powe said she always hears of great success stories, due to the
program, that make every effort worthwhile. In 2015 she said she was happy
to be able to assist a family that had decided not to celebrate Thanksgiving
because they were going to use their Holiday Helping Hands meal for
Christmas. Within the same day Sullivan-Powe said she received a basket
donation from First Light Federal Credit Union with all of the fix-ins for a
Thanksgiving meal, the donation went straight to the family who was going to
skip thanksgiving.
"Our priority is our military families, any branch of service; Army, Air
Force, Navy, and Marines," Sullivan-Powe said.
Supervisors must sign-off on the application form in order to ensure that
the applicant and their family are truly in need. However, Sullivan-Powe
said each case is different. She said she doesn't want someone to be
deterred from applying because they need their supervisor's signature or
they were not able to obtain their supervisor's signature.
"I don't want that to be a deterrent," Sullivan-Powe said.
ACS also provides monetary assistance for military families and dependents
who have a need to travel during the holiday season or any unforeseen
circumstances through the Army Emergency Relief Fund, a private, non-profit
organization. WSMR AER Officer Andrew Lucht said the program is mainly
funded by donations from veterans and is intended to help their fellow
Soldiers in need.
"The goal is to keep you from going to payday lenders, who charge ridiculous
fees, over the holidays," Lucht said.
There is currently one Angel Tree located at the main entrance at the Post
Exchange. Gifts for Angel Tree participants are due Dec. 12, unwrapped and
with the angel tag attached to the gift.
For more information on how you can help, or to apply for assistance or
reserve your Christmas tree call (575) 678-6767.
For information or to apply for an AER loan, call Andrew Lucht at (575)
678-1337.