Caring with one box at a time: Dover AFB spouses make care packages for 436th AMXS Airmen Published May 21, 2010 By Airman 1st Class Shen-Chia Chu 436th AW Public Affairs DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. -- When an Airman is tasked to deploy in their military career, he or she leaves their familiar environment to an unknown territory to help accomplish a mission. The Delaware United Service Organizations teamed up with Dover Air Force Base spouses and made care packages as a way to show support to the 436th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Airmen who are currently deployed downrange. "We have deployed 40 Airmen and activated Reservists in the last two months," said Maj. Stephanie Halcrow, 436th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron commander. "Making these care packages is a way of showing our maintainers downrange that we're thinking of them." The major said she's thankful for the USO who donated the items for the packages. "The USO is very generous for their donations. They also accommodated with us after work hours to make this event possible," said Major Halcrow. The executive director of USO Delaware, Joan Cote, helped the spouses pack boxes filled with hygiene products, books and more. "We are able to provide Airmen with these products thanks to the community fulfilling our wishlist request for donations." said Ms. Cody. Dover AFB Spouses worked as a team to put together the care packages and many of them believe it will help to boost the morale for deployed Airmen overseas. "We can get what we need around the corner, but when you're in a deployed environment it's not as easy," said Amber Reese, wife of Airman 1st Class Nathan Reese, 436th AMXS. "By providing items needed during a deployment for Airmen, this is one less thing for them to worry about while they're focusing on accomplishing the mission." One of the Dover AFB Spouses who has had ample experience in care packaging offers a bit of advice for choosing the right parcel. Julie Lynn, wife of Chief Master Sgt. Jon Lynn, 436th Maintenance Operations Squadron Superintendant, says she has packed many care packages - too many to count. "My husband has been on so many deployments I've lost count, but I could say he has been deployed more than 15 times out of the 22 years of our marriage," said Mrs. Lynn. "I used empty metal popcorn tins to send food items. There were mice at my husband's deployment environment that chewed through cardboard packages to get to the food." After 22 years, Mrs. Lynn said she's an expert by now at making these packages and she knows what to pack. "We are sending the simplest of things to the Airmen, but it is the fact that people care enough about them to send something is what they appreciate the most," said Mrs. Lynn. For information about the wishlist for Airmen, call the USO at 677-2491 or email usodelaware@aol.com.