Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
The Clovis Curry County Chamber of Commerce has a project in the works which could mean more frequent and convenient family communication for deployed airmen.
Sarah Stagner, with Clovis Insurance Center, and her husband, Justin, have been involved in many charitable projects geared towards Cannon Air Force Base, such as the airmen’s Christmas Dinner and Swarm the Dorms.
“We just really support what they do because we have friends who are military and we see what the military personnel as well as what their spouses have to sacrifice that we in our jobs don’t have to,” Stagner said. “We just really appreciate what they do. There’s always the possibility that they’re not going to return from a deployment and that’s a huge sacrifice they make for people who they don’t know.”
Stagner said her new project, Clovis Calls, began when she received a call from a military friend asking her if she knew of any resources where international calling cards could be bought in bulk.
Stagner said a short time later she learned of a grant given to non-profit organizations through EMC Insurance Companies.
Stagner sprang into action, teaming up with the Clovis Chamber of Commerce to apply for the $25,000 grant.
“This community does a fantastic job reaching out to the men and women of Cannon,” said chamber Director Ernie Kos. “Typically, all of the things we do take money. Normally, local people are very generous to donate money for these things. The cool thing about this project is people don’t have to give any money. This is an opportunity to support them by just clicking a button.”
Kos said if the chamber is given the grant, all of the funds will be used to buy phone cards for airmen due to deploy. She said local residents can help by going online and voting for Clovis to get the grant. Anyone can vote once a day every day.
“It’s just a great way to help out, because when you’re deploying, you can get stuck between home and any place on the way to where you’re going, so phone cards would be a great way to be able to contact your family no matter where you are,” said Capt. Ryan Cross of Cannon, husband and father of two. “I think the most difficult part is the beginning of the deployment and the initial communication because the family is having to cope with their family member being gone and the person deployed is having to deal with the stresses of a new schedule and becoming adjusted; everything is different.”
Cross said communities and the military helping each other is very important and he feels the local communities and Cannon exercise this regularly.
“I just really encourage people to participate in this effort,” Kos said. “I think it’s huge. I think it’s just another way to connect and support each other.”
Voting for the grant ends on Oct. 8.
