The Dyess We Care Team (WCT) is a 501(c)(3) volunteer organization that is made up of active duty Air Force, civilians, retire military members, and their families who are interested in helping the disabled, elderly, and others in need of minor home repairs. In addition, the WCT assist other non-profit agencies such as Hope Haven, the Hendrick Home for Children, the Ben Richie Boy’s Ranch, Abilene State Assisted Living, Salvation Army, United way and more. Referrals from non-profit community service organizations, website request, and phone line requests are the primary sources of our home repair projects.

The Dyess We Care Team started with a phone call. A young Staff Sergeant assigned to the 7th Bomb Wing’s Military Equal Opportunity Office, whose duties included assessing each squadron’s human relations climate and educating all newly assigned personnel on human resources and diversity, began to notice a change in the assigned personnel on human resources and diversity, began to notice a change in the Air Force. Doing “More with Less” was taking its toll on camaraderie, teamwork, and mentoring; everyone seemed so busy fixing and launching aircraft that they overlooked their most valuable resource – each other.

SSgt Storey pondered tirelessly for a solution and subsequently reflected on his own personal life for an answer. The times he felt proudest and most confident were the personal life for an answer. The times he felt proudest and most confident were the times he had to roll up sleeves, get dirty, and work side-by-side with other volunteers to assist someone in need. So, SSgt Storey called the commander’s Action Line and suggested Dyess use community service as a conduit to build base cohesion, teamwork, self-worth, confidence and leadership in their people. Little did he realize at the time, he just “volunteered” to become the founder of the Dyess We Care Team.

That’s when SSgt Storey learned how supportive and generous the Abilene community was. With jus a couple of phone calls, the team returned the following weekend “armed-to-the-teeth” with all the paint supplies they needed! In true Air Force fashion, their mission was a success. Congressman Stenholm conducted the dedication ceremony of the Vista\Hope project and applauded the men and women of the Dyess We Care Team.

Barbara Reid, from the Abilene State Supported Living Center, saw a small news paper article about this exceptional group of volunteers and their efforts to help the people of Ballinger, Texas. The Abilene State Supported Living Center wa gearing up for their own monumental task, and Barbara knew she needed a team of energetic volunteers if the vision was to be a reality. She contacted SSgt Storey and from December 2000 through December 2001 over 500 Dyess We Care Team volunteers put in nearly 6,000 hours over the course of 14 weekends to create the ONLY 100% wheelchair accessible playground in a 250 mile radius – the Centennial Park Playground. Naturally, a structure of this importance received quite a bit of local publicity; hence, the word was out – The Dyess We Care Tea: Defending the Country; Serving their Community.

Since their conception in July 2000, the Dyess We Care Team volunteers have been a little busy in their off-duty time. From painted houses, to replacing dry rotted boards, to building wheel chair ramps, to cutting down trees, to installing cabinetry and plumbing fixtures, to serving spaghetti and baked beans (assisting the various Lions Clubs of Abilene who use the funds to run their camp for handicapped children) just to name a few.  Although the Dyess We Care Team averages 35-45 projects a year, there are some projects that are near and dear to their hearts.

responsible leaders. By empowering even the lowest of ranks, the WCT and the Team Leader program allows all motivated Airmen to take hold of designated service projects from start to finish. These Airmen lead teams, often consisting of higher ranking officers and senior enlisted, through all stages of the project until completion. The Team Leader program is a perfect example of how the WCT marries the Air Force mission with its own.

Although the WCT is technically not affiliated with the Department of Defense or the Air Force, we have always benefited from the overwhelming support of our Dyess leadership. There are two main reasons for the WCT success at Dyess and throughout the Air Force: building leaders within our ranks and supporting the daily mission of the military by sustaining and assisting our community.

Although the Airmen are the backbone of the program, much of the success is attributed to the outstanding support of the city of Abilene, its residents, and countless sponsors. The most fundamental part of the WCT is reliant on a supportive community, a generous sponsor base, and a welcoming group of people in need willing to seek help from others. This powerful combination of a hospitable community and a willing service group is what has made Abilene such a perfect place to initiate a volunteer program through Dyess AFB.

The welcoming community has made it easy for the program to bloom off base, but the support of leadership on base has been above and beyond. The Command structure has recognized the legitimacy of the WCT and has encouraged participation. The WCT is proud to have been given the opportunity by Dyess AFB and Abilene’s leadership to help those in need.

The Dyess We Care Team Program

The WCT typically meets 2 – 3 Saturdays a month, so we normally limit our projects to short term assistance, consisting of painting and associated minor repairs, which can be accomplished in one day.  The WCT provides FREE labor from our highly dedicated, energetic, and enthusiastic volunteers. In additions, through The Combined Federal Campaign (CFC #71767), personnel from Dyess AFB contribute to the WCT. This allows us to provide the materials at little or no expense to the home owner.

On average the WCT organizes nearly 500 volunteers and conducts 30-45 projects each year and contributes over 4,500 volunteer hours, valued at approximately $113,000 in labor alone (the value of volunteer time.Retrieved January 8, 2019 from independentsector.org). Airmen lead most of our projects affording them the opportunity to hone their leadership skills.