HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah — A local shelter will better serve its clients due to the efforts of Airmen stationed here.
YCC (Your Community Connection) Family Crisis Center is a domestic violence shelter in Ogden. The shelter aids victims of abuse and their children with food, counseling and support. Many of these victims have experienced horrible tragedies, to include domestic violence and rape.
According to one beneficiary, “YCC is a light in the darkness, reaching out to those who are trying to escape violence.”
Senior Airman Taekausha Lomax, 388th Operations Support Squadron, wanted to help because of her experiences with victims of abuse.
“Unfortunately, I’ve witnessed friends who have been involved with abusive partners where a spouse stayed in an abusive relationship for the sake of the kids or they felt as if they had nowhere else to go,” she said. “I commend the individuals who remove themselves, and in some cases their children, from harm’s way to put themselves in a better environment.”
Lomax contacted YCC and learned that they needed cosmetics, clothing, feminine products, blankets and children’s toys. She then organized a drive to collect those items from around the base. The drive ran from March 7 through April 10 and she and her team of 13 Airmen collected more than 500 items.
“Many individuals across base decided to lend a helping hand and become POCs for their locations,” said Lomax. “The total amount of donations surpassed my expectations.”
The donations were delivered to the YCC and volunteers included: Senior Airman Taekausha Lomax, Airman 1st Class Irvin Padilla, Airman 1st Class Gavin Rucker, Senior Airman Fabian Ferretti, Senior Airman Joseph Baker, Tech. Sgt. Gerald Edwards, Tech. Sgt. Mary Mines, Master Sgt. Vanessa Soto, Capt. Kristi Newberry, Senior Airman Douglas Crisp, Senior Airman Matthew Vongsavanh, Airman 1st Class Taylor Holdorf and Tech. Sgt. Valerie Taitingfong.
“Everyone deserves a chance at happiness and if I’m in a position to help someone less fortunate, then I should help,” said Lomax.
