Air Force Academy cadets give back to southern Colorado
Hundreds of Air Force Academy cadets spent Friday giving back to southern Colorado. They helped out with 48 different organizations.
Cleanup started Friday morning in Manitou Springs with flood mitigation in Fountain Creek. They also worked on homes affected by the Black Forest fire and removed overgrown trees. In Peyton, cadets cleaned kennels at The National Dog Mill Rescue. In Pueblo they went door-to-door testing fire alarms.
In Colorado Springs, one of the places they volunteered at was the Salvation Army.
For one cadet who grew up with the organization, it meant much more than volunteering.
“We’re painting and staining the playground out here for the little kids,” said Matthew Hale, Air Force Academy cadet 3rd class.
It’s not just a paint job- Hale knows how important a playground is to kids.
“I grew up on a Navajo reservation, so we didn’t have much. We grew up with very little,” said Hale.
Little that would have been nothing if it weren’t for the Salvation Army.
“The Salvation Army helped us build stuff, because we didn’t have much where I lived and grew up,” said Hale.
“Some of them have been helped by the Salvation Army and now they get to give back to someone else for their own benefit,” said Maj. Richard Larson, with the Salvation Army of El Paso County.
More than 100 cadets showed up at the Salvation Army to help.
“We’re moving things, cleaning things, making lunches. Just doing a whole bunch of stuff,” said Marrene Hangen, Air Force Academy cadet 1st class.
All are projects connecting the cadets with the community.
“They’re dancing with the seniors, they’re having a good time. It’s just what we do, help people,” said Larson.
A lesson, Hale says, he’s learned through both the academy and Salvation Army.
“It’s just that feeling you get from helping others, which is why I feel like the Salvation Army does what they do,” said Hale.
Matthew Hale was featured as KRDO NewsChannel 13’s “Wear Red Friday Hero.” If you’d like to nominate someone, click here.
