TOP STORY > >Grab a bag, help a Little Rock family in need

By Staff Sgt. Nestor Cruz
19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

Commissary shoppers will see special brown paper bags of food near the front entrance at least once a month, but these aren’t grab bags to take home.

The bags of food are part of a new program to help Team Little Rock families in need.

“The program is Airmen Helping Airmen and the purpose is to help the base food pantry,” said Susan Czelusta, wife of Col. Mark Czelusta, 314th Airlift Wing commander. “I knew there was a need and that supplies run low during this season. So I talked with other spouses, and we came up with a plan to do this on paydays.”

Mrs. Czelusta created three different food bags with non-perishable items such as canned chicken, canned soup, boxes of macaroni and cheese, peanut butter and bags of rice. Each bag is priced at just under $5.

Mrs. Czelusta and other spouses will be at the commissary front entrance at least once a month to help explain the program to shoppers.

“It’s really easy,” she said. “All people have to do is come in and pick up a bag. A cashier will scan the bag, and a bagger will take the bag to an area reserved for the base food pantry. We take care of the rest.”

At the end of the day, Airmen Helping Airmen volunteers will deliver the bags to the pantry.

Mrs. Czelusta said she went on the Internet and researched what items are normally stocked in a food pantry. She took that list and found out what items were needed at the base’s own food pantry.

Her next step was recruiting help to make the program a success.

“I got with the commissary staff to ask for help and Julie Hall [the commissary manager] was more than willing to help,” said Mrs. Czelusta.

Mrs. Hall was instrumental in providing money-saving coupons and finding the best deals, giving Airmen Helping Airmen volunteers “more bang for the buck,” added Mrs. Czelusta.

“Mrs. Hall has worked hard with us to make sure we got the best prices and best values, so we actually have quite a bit of food in each bag,” said Ashley Minihan, wife of Col. Mike Minihan, 19th Airlift Wing commander.

She helped Mrs. Czelusta fill 150 bags for the program launch Oct. 15 at 9 a.m. At approximately 11:30 a.m. all bags were sold thanks to the generosity of Team Little Rock members. In addition to the purchased bags, members from the 373rd Training Squadron donated $140 from a recent fundraiser.

“They did a wonderful job and now there’s quite a bit of food in the pantry,” said Carolyn Craig-Sprow, 19th Force Support Squadron community readiness consultant who manages the base food pantry. “Thanks to the efforts of Mrs. Czelusta and the other volunteers, the food pantry is about halfway filled up now.” By working together as a team, Airmen Helping Airmen provides the opportunity to help more families in need, she added.

“Susan Czelusta has spearheaded this [program] and worked so hard to make it happen,” said Mrs. Minihan. “We’re very happy it’s a base-wide program and our initial success is a combination of everyone working together from all three wings.”

Mrs. Czelusta hopes to continue the program as long as there is a need.

“For the price of a latte, we can help a family in need,” said Mrs. Czelusta. “If our putting together this program prevents even one family from having to go to bed hungry, then it’s worth it.”