Munch and Mend

Approximately 13 Airmen took advantage of free food and free patch sewing for the Base Chapel-sponsored Munch and Mend at the Vanwey Recreation Center. Chaplain (Capt.) Martin Booth signs in an Airman Nov. 13 while volunteers, including Master Sgt. Mavis Durant, 72nd Medical Group Optometry Clinic, work on uniforms. (Air Force photo by Margo Wright)

Free Munchies

Volunteers show their support for young Airmen, one stitch at a time

Published Nov. 21, 2007
By Brandice J. Armstrong
Tinker Public Affairs

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE -- Airmen munched and volunteers mended.
   Thirteen Airmen participated in "Munch and Mend" Nov. 13 at the Vanwey Recreation Center. Offered by the Chapel and held quarterly since August 2006, 17 base volunteers sewed uniform articles onto blues and battle dress uniforms for 13 young Airmen, free of charge.
   "It's our way of doing something for those who are working for us," said Judy Taylor, a volunteer seamstress. "I thoroughly believe in the mission and I don't think Airmen get enough for what they do."
   Airmen were served on a first-come, first-serve basis and offered pizza and soda while they waited.
   Airman 1st Class Martin Walker of the 552nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron was the first to sign up. He requested six patches be sewn on to two BDU shirts.
   "I think it's nice that people want to sew (the items) on for free," he said. "It takes the stress off because I have no transportation and it's hard to get to the dry cleaners and get back."
   Airman Walker said he had learned of the program through the noncommissioned officer appointed over his group at Aerospace Maintenance Technical School, which he graduated from earlier that day.
   Even though Airman Walker arrived within minutes of the event's commencement, it was an overall slow start. Only one or two Airmen trickled in at a time.
   Yet, within two hours, the recreation center was filled with Airmen biding their time playing video games, watching television, playing pool, chatting and dining on free food.
   "We've had as few Airmen as 10 and as many as almost 30," said Chaplain (Capt.) Martin Booth, event organizer and coordinator, "and we've sewn on between 40 and 170 items.
   Volunteers, sewing machines, tables and chairs were organized in a "U" formation. Airmen signed in, noting the number of items and if applicable, special instructions, before leaving uniform shirts and patches.
   Volunteers de-stitched breast pockets for easier sewing access and pinned items onto the uniform, careful to abide by military standards. Uniforms were sent down the line to the sewing machines, where operators spent 15 to 20 minutes stitching on items. Afterward, uniforms were pressed and were available for pick-up. The whole process took 30 to 45 minutes per uniform.
   When the four-hour event concluded, volunteers had sewn 107 items including ranks, name badges, squadron and major command patches onto the uniforms.