Its all about taking care of the family Published Oct. 23, 2009 By Tech. Sgt. Kristina Barrett 501st Combat Support Wing Public Affairs RAF ALCONBURY, United Kingdom -- Taking care of the 501st family - this is just one of the 501st Combat Support Wing's priorities. Leading the charge of taking care of deployed family members is Mrs. Ok Cashdollar, spouse of Col. Timothy Cashdollar, wing commander. She had led a wing-wide effort to ensure each deployed Airmen from the 501st receives regular care packages and messages from home. Included in these packages are phone cards donated by AAFES, snacks and treats donated by DECA, and notes of encouragement from school children. During a recent spouse event, several family members assisted in packaging and wrapping each care package. At the end of the day, there were more than 100 boxes waiting to be sent all across the globe. "It is so important to take care if our deployed Airmen and their families," she explained. "This is why we began sending care packages and organizing deployed family events." One of those deployed family events is the Deployed Family Night Out at RAF Croughton, Nov. 14. This is the second deployed family night, the first was held at RAF Alconbury in August. Mrs. Cashdollar said her goal is to hold regular events hosted by a different 501st base. This gives other organizations a chance to host families from throughout the wing. Mrs. Cashdollar said the event is a success because of the volunteers in the program. "These programs are a team effort by so many great and caring volunteers and organizations who contribute their time and financial supports," she said. "The volunteers are the heart and soul of all the programs we run." One of the programs, the Uniform Closet, is a new spouses club initiative. Getting programs such as these aren't easy, to the Officers' Spouses' and Enlisted Spouses' Clubs, it's worth it, according to Mrs. Cashdollar. "I hope to make a difference in the lives of our wing family members," she said.