MINNEAPOLIS-ST PAUL AIR RESERVE STATION, Minn. -- In 1989, a man named Doug Wold got the 934th Airlift Wing involved in a volunteer event called a Paint-A-Thon. Now, 27 years later, the tradition of giving back is still going strong. Last week, members of the 934th volunteered their time to the program.
The Paint-A-Thon, started in 1988, is a national volunteer movement run by the Greater Minneapolis Community of Churches. The program helps elderly and disabled people stay in their homes longer.
Senior Master Sgt. Greg Jacobson, the quality assurance superintendent with the 934th Maintenance Group and leader of the volunteer team, said a lot of times people who are disabled or on a fixed income are unable to keep up the homes they are in. He said the GMCC provides three houses to choose from. “We usually choose probably the one in the worst condition,” he said. “They provide the paint and supplies, we provide the team.”
Jacobson has been the team leader for four years, but has been volunteering for the Paint-A-Thon since 2007. This year he had a team of 16 volunteers, mostly comprised of aircraft maintainers or members of the 934th Civil Engineer Squadron. Jacobson said most of the work on this year’s house included pressure washing the house to remove dirt and loose paint, priming and painting, and repairs to the soffits and fascia.
“One thing we kind of pride ourselves on is we all consider ourselves pretty handy guys,” said Jacobson. So they will ask the homeowner if they have any other work that needs to be done. He said last year they did a raffle and raised almost $900 to buy the homeowner a new garage door, service doors and siding.
The Airmen volunteering enjoy what they do. “I just think it’s a worthwhile investment of time,” said Tech. Sgt. Kyle Davis, an aircraft quality assurance inspector also from the 934th Maintenance Group. “We try and get a lot of people involved because it is enjoyable. We actually joke around.”
“The community always gives us a lot of support,” said Jacobson. “We get a lot of benefits being military members, whether it’s discounts from local businesses or just people in general thanking you for your service.” He said a lot of the Airmen volunteer because they think it’s a good way to give back to the community and it sets a good Air Force image. “It makes us good neighbors,” he said.
After the 20 hours of work the team put in, Jacobson said, “The house looks fantastic and should be maintenance free for the home owner for quite a few years.”
Ironically, Wold passed away Monday night while the team was out continuing what he started so many years ago. “I can’t think of a better way to honor his memory than to go out and help someone in need in an event he started,” said Jacobson. “Doug will be missed but his memory and giving live on.”