"Home Away From Home"

Irene McIntosh and Ed Cake greet the 81st Training Wing Airmen they are sponsoring for the “Home Away From Home” program, Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., Nov. 28, 2013. The “Home Away From Home” is a program sponsored by the 81st Training Wing Chapel that allows Team Keesler and local residents to sponsor non-prior service Airmen who couldn’t make it home for Thanksgiving to enjoy a home cooked meal. This is Irene’s fifth year participating in the program.

"Home Away From Home"

Irene McIntosh talks about her participation in the “Home Away From Home” program, Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., Nov. 28, 2013. The “Home Away From Home” is a program sponsored by the 81st Training Wing Chapel that allows Team Keesler and local residents to sponsor non-prior service Airmen who couldn’t make it home for Thanksgiving to enjoy a home cooked meal. This is Irene’s fifth year participating in the program.

"Home Away From Home"

Irene McIntosh and Ed Cake pose for a group photo with the 81st Training Wing Airmen they are sponsoring for the “Home Away From Home” program, Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., Nov. 28, 2013. The “Home Away From Home” is a program sponsored by the 81st Training Wing Chapel that allows Team Keesler and local residents to sponsor non-prior service Airmen who couldn’t make it home for Thanksgiving to enjoy a home cooked meal. This is Irene’s fifth year participating in the program.

Team Keesler provides place for Airmen during Thanksgiving

Published Dec. 3, 2013
By Staff Sgt. Alexandria Mosness
81st Training Wing Public Affairs

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Airmen from the 81st Training Wing were treated to a home cooked meal for Thanksgiving Nov. 28, in a program sponsored by the 81st TRW Chapel called "Home Away From Home."

The program allowed Team Keesler and local residents to sponsor non-prior service Airmen who couldn't make it home for Thanksgiving.

For a lot of Airmen, this is their first experience in the Air Force being away from their families. This is the opportunity to show them their Air Force family is there for them, said Tech. Sgt. Brandis Sims, 81st TRW Chapel NCO in charge of training group ministries.

"If my son was at a base, I'd hope there would be someone in the community who would take him in and give him a home cooked meal," said Irene McIntosh, a community member who has been participating in the program for the last five years. "Thanksgiving is a time to share, and I have so much fun with them," she added. "People really miss a blessing not doing it."

But, it is not just about the food. Irene and her husband give the Airmen the ability to relax.

The first thing McIntosh told the Airmen when she met them was, "You're only instructions are to have fun."

After she told them her only rule, she also gave them the opportunity to bring their personal electronics.

"We always tell them to bring their laptops or tablets so that they can use the Internet to talk to their families," McIntosh said. "We have gotten Airmen in the past who just came in from basic training a few days earlier and hadn't been able to have much contact with their family. It is nice being able to provide that for them."

"Honestly , it's nice to get a home cooked meal since it has been months for a lot of us," said Airman 1st Class Stefen Gomes, 336th Training Squadron. "It is nice to take a break from the training environment and relax. I'm grateful for those people who decided to take care of Airmen this Thanksgiving."

Not only did the McIntosh' provide brunch and dinner to the nine Airmen, but they also sent the Airmen back to base with a Thanksgiving tradition.

"Thanksgiving is about family and of course the leftovers," exclaimed McIntosh. "So, we are sending them home with containers of all the leftover food."