Community Partnership Day 2010

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Rachelle Coleman
  • 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  The day may have been a rainy one, but that didn't stop Airmen, Soldiers and members of the local community from gathering together and cleaning up the Natural Resources playground on Eielson Air Force Base for Community Partnership Day 2010 August 6, Eielson Air Force Base.

Each year the Greater Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce hosts a Community Partnership Day to show their support for military friends and neighbors. It's an opportunity to work side by side with military members on a community project. Members of the military from Fort Wainwright, Eielson, Air National Guard, and Army Reserve and National Guard gather together for a few hours of work, food and fun.

"It's a great opportunity and a great time," said Lisa Herbert, Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce Executive Director. "There aren't a lot of chances to work side-by-side with our military partners other than at meetings."

The event, hosted by the Greater Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce, kicked of at 9:30 a.m. Volunteers were given t-shirts and split into teams to start the clean up.

Volunteers spread new sand around the playground area, repaired the horseshoe pits, and cleaned up the pavilion area.

The park was originally created in 2002 as a Community Partnership Day project.
"To be able to come back in 2010 and spiff up the park is amazing, and it's a great success," said Mrs. Herbert. "Our biggest goal is to have fun and I think the rain made it fun - it didn't stop us."

After a couple hours of hard work, the volunteers were treated to a picnic lunch of bratwursts, hamburgers and drinks prepared especially for them by "celebrity" chefs from the local military and civilian communities.

The event has taken place every year since 2001. It was first held at Fort Wainwright and has alternated between the two military installations each year. It was started to encourage interaction between Airmen, Soldiers, and the local community while doing a community service project.

Projects in the past have included playground equipment installation, beautifying the front gate at Eielson and cleaning up Memorial Park at Fort Wainwright.