10th MS volunteers lend a hand to Eagle Mount staff

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Cortney Paxton
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  More than 20 members of Malmstrom's 10th Missile Squadron gathered at Eagle Mount Great Falls on Nov. 8 to help the center with a few labor-intensive projects.

According to their website at www.eaglemount.net, Eagle Mount Great Falls is a non-profit organization focused on providing therapeutic and recreational activities for people of all ages with disabilities.

"We serve people in a range of disabilities from mental, physical, behavioral and emotional - anything doctor diagnosed we serve," said Stephanie Richardson, EMGF program coordinator. "We try to improve the quality of life for the participants and their families in doing things like recreational horseback riding, hippo therapy, recreational skiing and snowboarding, sled hockey, ballet, karate, gymnastics, bowling, rafting, pontoon boating, day camps, etcetera."

Their services reach a wide range of people from infants to the elderly - each providing the participant with opportunities to be able to do almost any recreational activity. The staff of EMGF is skilled and helps tailor the activities to each participant's disability.

"It's a very unique format and there's actually not many in this country," said Jonny Gooldy, EMGF certified riding instructor. "Usually [most centers] do one discipline and we do multi-discipline. It's growing more and more in mental health aspects, too. That's a whole new area that we've been launching into and it's been extremely rewarding."

The 10th MS team helped the EMGF launch into a more organized facility. While they were there, they helped reorganize and set up the facility's tool room and designated Hippo Therapy room. They also helped the center sort through donated horse equipment. The last thing on the group's "to do list" was to build two benches out of used snowboards for a place for people to sit down and put their boots on before skiing or snowboarding.

"Some of the stuff they're doing is going to directly impact our participants," Gooldy said. "When it comes to the organizing and cleaning, that is just going to make this facility operate much better, help us maintain our herd, and just have things function and be a lot more user-friendly. It's just tremendously huge. It's going to make things a lot better for us in the future."

These projects were only a small part of what was accomplished during the day. Upon completion, the team of volunteers ultimately gave themselves and the staff of EMGF a whole new reason to smile.

"As a squadron, we have done volunteer work in the past and I have always seen a tremendous increase in our camaraderie after we complete a volunteer effort," said Lt. Col. Demetrius Walters, 10th Missile Squadron commander. "All disciplines and ranks working side by side, outside of a work environment helps us to foster teamwork and trust. Of course the gratitude of the great folks at Eagle Mount was truly appreciated."

Walters was only one of the volunteers who used their time to help EMGF improve their facility. Not only has the 10th MS volunteered to help the center, but the 819th RED HORSE Squadron made a trip to the center this past summer to help build shelters.

"Volunteers are the heart and soul of what we do," Richardson said. "Without them we couldn't accomplish our mission, which is to improve the quality of live for individuals with disabilities. It's absolutely huge just doing one simple project like creating a bench for ski participants to sit on while putting their boots on. I mean, I probably wouldn't even get it done. It's just unfathomable how much help it is. We've found our muscle through Malmstrom."

Eagle Mount Great Falls always welcomes new volunteers. Airmen can volunteer on a one-time basis doing things like organizing and building things, or on an ongoing basis. There are many different programs at EMGF, all of which could always use help according to EMGF staff.

"We're always looking for ongoing help, so if people couldn't come out for this project due to other reasons, I don't want them to feel like they missed out," Gooldy said. "If they want to be involved, we'll do these work parties throughout the year, especially before we start back up in the spring. All of our programs need volunteers, especially skiing. If people have any interest or background in skiing we'll do some training in December for that."

Any Airman or squadron interested in volunteering should contact the organization's program volunteer coordinator at (406) 454-1449, or visit their website at www.eaglemount.net.