MXG spouses bring joy to local community, support base

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Collin Schmidt
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  Military spouses provide a cornerstone of support for Malmstrom Air Force Base's active-duty Airmen, their families and the local Great Falls community. During a 341st Maintenance Group picnic Sept. 3 at Sun Plaza Park, they were once again in full force as spouses of 341st MXG Airmen organized an art project intended to bring a little joy to the local elderly while giving the children something to participate in also.

"We are organizing an art project involving children of the maintenance group; specifically creating finger paintings to give to 134 residents of several local long-term care facilities," said Suzzanne Slaughter, 341st MXG member spouse.

In her free time, Slaughter volunteers with several local charities. It was while volunteering with one of those charities that she got the idea to create an art project.

"I meet a lot of passionate and caring people while I volunteer," she said. "I had met an employee of Benefis Hospital who drives senior citizens of these facilities to their outside medical appointments. He loves his job and said often times he is the only person these residents see outside of those in the facilities.

"He said some feel lonely and isolated," she continued. "So we started a conversation about what simple things could be done to bring kindness and joy into their lives."

While talking, the driver stated that even something as simple as a child's finger painting would mean the world to these senior citizens.

Since that conversation, the 341st MXS spouses have banded together to make that idea a reality.

"I firmly believe in the old saying 'a rising tide lifts all boats,'" said Slaughter. "Being able to do something like this which leaves a positive lasting impact on those around me, that is the most important part."

According to Slaughter, when the idea was initially suggested to leadership, it was encouraged and supported. The people who helped put together the picnic worked together to make everything possible.

"If this is a success, I hope it can become something the maintenance group can do again," said Slaughter.

"The 341st MXG spouses who are helping make this project a success believe in this as well," she said. "All of us are doing something which makes our community - both inside and outside of the fence line - a better place."