Dorm dwellers receive free, home-cooked meal

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Julius Delos Reyes
  • 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Eating the same dinner from three days ago made dining monotonous for an Airman with the 412th Operations Support Squadron. 

Airman 1st Class Diane Burton, 412th OSS commander support staff and one of Edwards' dorm dwellers, cooks her own food on a regular basis, but has found herself preparing the same thing over and over again. 

For her dinner on July 12, she had a home-cooked meal just like any other night, only she didn't have to make a thing.

Airman Burton was one of more than 50 Airmen and Marines who enjoyed a free home-cooked meal during the Dorm-Dweller Dinner at the Chapel 1 annex. 

"This event is about giving an opportunity to Airmen and Marines to have a home-cooked meal and gather in a place of friendship," said Alessandra Soltis, volunteer and organizer for the event. "We thought this is something they could appreciate." 

The event came into fruition after weeks of planning, she said. 

"Preparation was basically picking up the phone, calling a bunch of people and asking for help," Mrs. Soltis said. 

The Team Edwards community including military, spouses and civilians provided the much needed help. 

"We had a great outpouring of help," Mrs. Soltis said. "People wanted to do it. They would say, 'sign me up for lasagna,' 'sign me up for salad' or 'sign me up for anything.'" 

And sign up they did, as people volunteered to prepare Italian food such as lasagna, salads and spaghetti. Cakes, pastries and ice cream were also served to the dorm dwellers. 

"The volunteers were fundamental for this event," Mrs. Soltis said. "Without them, we would not be able to do this. They were the heart of this event" 

Col. Bryan Gallagher, 95th Air Base Wing commander, and Col. Arnie Bunch, 412th Test Wing commander, even offered to serve these Airmen and Marines. 

The Commissary and Army and Air Force Exchange Service also provided help for the events, as well as Panera Bread, an off-base restaurant specializing in baked breads. Club Muroc also loaned utensils and pans for the event. 

"I think it was very good that they actually did something for the people in the dorms," Airman Burton said. "It gives us the opportunity to get out, away from the dorm life and hang out with other people in the dorms." 

After the event, the food was taken to Airmen and Marines who were unable to join the event because they were working. 

"The food was excellent," Airman Burton said. "I will walk out of here full. That is a positive out of this. Hopefully, they will do this again."