Volunteers reach high mark Published April 16, 2015 By Maj. Melanie Englert 139th Airlift Wing ST. JOSEPH, Mo. -- Volunteers from the Airman and Family Readiness Program tracked more than 1,196 hours in 2014 towards supporting members of the 139th Airlift Wing and their families, according to Jane Gabriel, the wing's Airman and Family Readiness Program manager. These hours include visiting families in the hospital, writing congratulatory cards, phone calls, making and delivering meals, drill weekends and pre-deployments. "Feeling like I make a difference in a person's life is the reason I volunteer," says Larissa Brown, a key volunteer with the program. "I am one of ten key volunteers that are assigned to the various units of the wing." Other key volunteers echoed Brown and said, "support of the unit commander is priceless, you feel you are a part of the team and you gain their trust and friendship." "If I didn't feel like I was making a difference in the lives of our Airmen and families, I would not continue to make the hour drive to volunteer", said Brown. The Airmen and Family Readiness Program meets the needs of individuals, families, and leadership with programs and services to strengthen communities, encourage self-sufficiency, enhance mission readiness and ease adaptation to the Air Force way of life. There is a direct relationship between a member's ability to successfully accomplish a mission, and the quality of life his or her family experiences. Because of this relationship, many services are available to promote a positive family environment.