AFA Swamp Fox Chapter Feeds 450 Airmen on Thanksgiving

The dining facility at Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter, S.C., is closed for renovation through 2027, leaving many dorm-residing Airmen with limited access to home-cooked meals. In response, the Greater Sumter Chamber of Commerce partnered with the Air & Space Forces Association’s Swamp Fox Chapter #298 to ensure Airmen still experienced a meaningful Thanksgiving surrounded by community support and fellowship.

Within 24 hours of the chamber’s call for community support, the Swamp Fox Chapter secured a $1,000 grant from AFA’s United Forces & Families program. The funds went toward the third annual Dorm Airmen Thanksgiving Meal on November 24, 2025, at the Shaw Air Force Base Chapel Annex. Through a combination of home-cooked meals, monetary donations, and community support, organizers provided enough food to serve approximately 450 Airmen.

The event was staffed by members of the 20th Force Support Squadron, base senior leadership, veterans, and local families, who personally served the meal to attending Airmen.

The Greater Sumter Chamber of Commerce was honored to be the first organization within the Swamp Fox Chapter’s area of responsibility—which includes Camden, Manning, Florence, and Myrtle Beach—to receive funding through this grant program. Grant funds were applied directly to food procurement, event logistics, and overall execution, ensuring a high-quality and welcoming experience for all participants.

Event organizers reported overwhelming positive feedback, noting that the Thanksgiving meal strengthened community bonds and demonstrated heartfelt appreciation for military service members. The grant played a critical role in the success of the event, helping transform logistical challenges into an opportunity for unity and gratitude.

Cheryl Moye, AFA’s Swamp Fox Chapter Vice President of Communications, highlighted the broader challenges surrounding this year’s meal, including the ongoing government shutdown and the extended dining facility closure.

AFA’s United Forces & Families grants provide up to $1,000 to support quality-of-life programs benefiting Department of the Air Force families, with an initial $500 award and up to an additional $500 available through matching funds. Apply here.