'Home Away from Home' creates family atmosphere Published Oct. 20, 2010 By Steve Hoffmann 81st Training Wing Public Affairs KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- For 14 years, the chapel's Home Away from Home program has paired non-prior service Airmen with host families for Thanksgiving. This program gives host families to welcome two or more students into their home, providing them with home cooked meal and a family experience on Thanksgiving Day. "Many of our students are away from home for the first time," said Chaplain (Capt.) Ruben Covos. "After basic training, they are just now beginning to let their guard down and feel again. They miss being home. They miss their parents, spouses, girlfriends and boyfriends so anything we can do to introduce a home and family experience into that is helpful." Many of the host families are retired military and welcome the opportunity to have an impact on a young airman. "Some of them are missing their own sons and daughters," Chaplain Covos pointed out. However, host families can be active duty, Reserve, Guard, retired or civil service with access to the base and the ability to host two or more Airmen. In 2009, 235 students were placed in 78 host homes. The chapel is expecting to increase those numbers this year with larger numbers of people living in base housing. Host registration forms are available and must be returned to the Fishbowl Student Ministry Center or at any base chapel by Nov. 22. Online registration is also available at http://www.keesler.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=15741 For information, call 377-2331.