Operations Group conducts film drive to aid hospital

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Stephen Delgado
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  With the rise of digital photography, Polaroid pictures have become like the vinyl record and VCR -- for the most part a thing of the past. However, Polaroid film is being resurrected because of a drive being aided by the 56th Operations Group through two Airmen. 

Spearheaded by intelligence analysts Senior Airman Bryan Anderson and Airman 1st Class Derek Littlejohn, the OG is collecting packages of Polaroid 600 film and money to buy film to aid the Phoenix Children's Hospital Animal Assisted Therapy Program. They will be collecting until Tuesday. 

"Phoenix Children's Hospital provides the animal assisted therapy program to patients, age 6 months to 20," Mary Lou Jennings, Phoenix Children's Hospital coordinator, said. "There are 20 to 30 volunteers who help with this program. Our therapy animals and owners are trained and nationally certified. The animals usually go to a calmer atmosphere such as a nursing home before coming here. It can get hectic around here. We don't want the animals to panic." 

Animal assisted therapy acts as a means to motivate children to help themselves. 

"Animal assisted therapy helps to get children out of bed and to participate in their physical therapy," Ms. Jennings said. "It also assists with the emotional and mental side of recovery. This type of therapy is another tool to reach the child." 

"The Polaroid pictures are important because they are immediately available to the patients and give much-needed positive experience," Airman Anderson said. 
"Occasionally, people will ask why digital photography isn't used. Polaroid pictures provide an instant memory for the children as well as eliminating privacy act concerns on the part of the hospital. The pictures help many patients relive the experience for days, as well as improving their memory and mood." 

Ms. Jennings attended an OG staff meeting Tuesday with a therapy dog and its trainer. 

"The function was held in the OG main conference room and instantly improved the memory and mood of the fighter squadron commanders," Airman Littlejohn said. "The 425th FS held a commanding lead in this fun and meaningful competition. Each squadron is keeping track of how many boxes of film and cash have been collected."
Organizations willing to donate should go to any fighter squadron operations desk or the base operations counter at the 56th Operations Support Squadron headquarters - Bldg 453. 

For more information, call Maj. Brad Kornreich at (623) 856-7247 or Airman 1st Class Derek Littlejohn at (623) 856-3606.