Operation Pillowcase: Keeping children, deployed parents close

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Robert Nelson
  • 445th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  The 445th Airman and Family Readiness office does more than offer services to military members and spouses, they provide support to the children too. They do this through the Operation Pillowcase program.

The Operation Pillowcase program is designed to boost and maintain morale of the entire family. A photo of the deployed Airman is placed on a pillowcase for their children. The kids can then hold their pillow with a picture of their parent close to them.

"This is an awesome program and I love being a part of it. We never forget that the kids can use some support too," said Tech. Sgt. Natalie Storms, 445th Airman and Family Readiness office.

The program plays a significant role in the morale and wellbeing of children while their parent is in a deployed location.

"This is a free service that we provide to the families," said Tech. Sgt. Heather Chapman, 445th Airman and Family Readiness office.

The airman and family readiness team can either take a photo of the deploying airman or they use one from the family. Then the family readiness team hot presses the photo onto the pillowcase.

"We make one pillowcase per child," Sergeant Chapman said. "Then we mail it directly to the child. Their name appears on the mailing address, so they know it's for them," she added.