ANDREWS AFB, Md. –
Authorized guests, including deployed spouses, guardians of children and approved family members of deployed airmen are invited to attend the Dining Facility's Deployed Family Member Dinner on Thursday.
"The Deployed Family Member's Dinner is for immediate family members to come and receive a discounted meal," said Tech. Sgt. Shante Castro, 316th Force Support Squadron Food Service NCOIC.
"We provide entertainment for the children such as child friendly movies playing on the big screen, face painting, story time, clowns and so on. The parents are able to meet and talk to other parents that are going through deployments as they are." Sergeant Castro said the children also receive a gift bag.
Sergeant Castro said the meals are important to the Andrews community because it is a way the base can support deployed members' loved ones. At the dinners, parents have an opportunity to speak with various base agency representatives to discuss the deployment, finances and educational services.
"This program is important to the community because we're trying to let the spouses and the families that are left behind know that they are not alone when their loved ones have to leave," said Sergeant Castro. "We want to be able to give them some kind of relief. This is our way of doing that."
Lenae Brewer, wife of 1st Lt. David Brewer, 316th Logistics Readiness Squadron officer, currently deployed to Kuwait for six months, agrees. "I like going to the deployment dinners because of camaraderie and being around other moms, being able to get a break from the everyday dinner hassle, let the kids enjoy their time with their friends to watch a movie, and let us moms talk quietly without running around and getting dinner. It's such a nice, relaxing atmosphere. When we went over to Freedom Hall, we were shocked and so thoroughly impressed. We were expecting a chow hall-type environment and it's so different from what we anticipated--it was a restaurant-quality, nice, clean facility--we absolutely loved it."
Nina Sargent, Airman and Family Readiness Center community readiness assistant said, "These meals provide an opportunity for families to meet other families who are experiencing similar situations and feelings; and they can find mutual support from one another. Freedom Hall offers a safe, welcoming place for the families of our deployed military members that is unique to Andrews."
The next Deployed Family Member Dinner will be held at the Freedom Hall Dining Facility Thursday from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. and are held every other week. Reservations are requested, but not required.