Abilene Home Away from Home

09/17/2026

Last night was a wonderful evening for the Abilene Home Away from Home program!❤️🤍💙

Seventy-four Airmen and host family members gathered at Nelson Park Festival Gardens for a delicious meal before heading across the street to experience the West Texas Fair & Rodeo! 🎡🐂

A huge THANK YOU to Chicken Express for assisting with the meal and to the Taylor County Expo Center for donating the rodeo tickets for our group. Their generosity made this special evening possible!

For many of our Airmen, this was their first-ever rodeo—what a fun way to experience a little West Texas culture and create memories with their Abilene families! 🧡

We are so grateful for the community that continues to welcome, support, and care for our Dyess Airmen. Abilene truly becomes home away from home!

Interested in becoming a host family?
Visit our website at www.myabihome.org to apply.

08/25/2026

We have NEW t-shirts available for purchase!

Want to support Abilene Home Away From Home in style? Order your very own AHAFH T-shirt and proudly show your support for the First-Term Airmen who call Dyess AFB home. Every shirt helps spread awareness of our mission and the importance of building connections between Airmen and the Abilene community.

T-shirts are $30 each. Please Venmo payment to Dawn Ripple -Ripple

Orders will close at midnight on Wednesday, September 16, 2027

Please place your order using this link -https://forms.gle/7KuXGYDvLdxDXvqV6

08/22/2026

We had the honor of hosting several Airmen for a Saturday morning brunch 😋 We gathered around the table, shared a meal, laughed and exchanged stories. These moments may seem ordinary, but for Airmen living away from family, they can mean so much.

The Abilene Home Away from Home program creates opportunities for you to open your home (& your hearts) to these fine young adults serving our country.

08/20/2026

Come stop by our table!

GRIT’s Veteran & Senior Resource Fair — happening TODAY!

Seeing these organizations come together under one roof is exactly what we envisioned when we started planning this event.

Whether you’re active duty, a veteran, military family member, senior, or caregiver, we hope you’ll join us today.

📍 Taylor County Coliseum | Abilene, TX
🚪 Doors open at 8:30 AM
🇺🇸 Opening Ceremonies at 9:00 AM
⏰ 9:00 AM–4:00 PM
🎟️ FREE admission — no registration required

Come see what your community has waiting for you.

08/18/2026

Hilarious comedian. Limited seats. Grab yours now!

08/18/2026

TWO DAYS AWAY! 🇺🇸 PLEASE SHARE!

This Thursday, August 20, the doors to the Taylor County Coliseum will open to attendees at 8:30 AM for the First Annual GRIT’s Veteran & Senior Resource Fair!

🚪 Doors Open: 8:30 AM
🇺🇸 Opening Ceremonies: 9:00 AM
⏰ Resource Fair: 9:00 AM–4:00 PM
📍 Taylor County Coliseum • Abilene, TX
🎟️ FREE • No registration required

More than 70 organizations are coming together under one roof with resources, services, education, and support for active-duty military, veterans, seniors, caregivers, and families.

You may not need this fair — but someone you know does.

Please SHARE this post and help us reach them. Tag a veteran. Tag a caregiver. Tag a senior. Send it to someone who needs to know what’s available right here in the Big Country.

No admission. No registration. Just show up.

We’ll see you Thursday! 🇺🇸

08/12/2026

The One Where the Families Meet! ❤️

You know that feeling when two worlds come together and it just clicks? That’s exactly what happens when an Abilene Home Away from Home host family gets the chance to meet an Airman’s family!

Our host families don’t just welcome Airmen into their lives—they become part of their extended family. And when an Airman’s family comes to visit, it’s a special opportunity for everyone to meet, share stories, make memories, and see the incredible connections that have grown through AHAFH.

Because sometimes, a “home away from home” becomes so much more than a place—it becomes family. ❤️

08/10/2026

Come visit our table and learn how you can become a host family for our first term Airmen here at Dyess AFB.

🇺🇸 One day. One location. More than 70 organizations ready to serve our community.

On Thursday, August 20, we're bringing together resources for active-duty military, veterans, military families, caregivers, seniors, and the people who support them.

Here's just a glimpse of what you'll find:

✅ 70+ exhibiting organizations
🎤 Expert speakers on veteran services, aging, caregiving, and wellness
📸 Free patriotic veteran headshots
💈 Free veteran haircuts
🖋 Free notary services
🏍 Patriot Guard Riders display
🎁 Drawings throughout the day
❤️ Health screenings, benefits assistance, employment resources, caregiver support, and so much more.

This event exists for one reason:

To connect people with the resources that can improve their quality of life.

Whether you're looking for help today, planning for tomorrow, or simply want to discover what's available in our community, we invite you to join us.

📅 August 20, 2026
🕘 9:00 AM–4:00 PM
📍 Taylor County Coliseum – Abilene, Texas

Please share this post and help us reach someone who could benefit from attending.

Who are you most excited to hear from or connect with at this year's GRIT's Veteran & Senior Resource Fair? Let us know below!

07/31/2026

Abilene Home Away from Home is proud to be a member of the Military Affairs Council ❤️🤍💙

Learn more about our mission at www.myabihome.org

07/20/2026

Building more than just a shed...building friendships that last a lifetime!

One of the greatest things about the Abilene Home Away From Home program is seeing Host Families and Airmen working side by side, sharing skills, laughter, and meaningful conversations. Recently, four of our Airmen pitched in to help construct a new shed with their Host Family, proving that the program is about so much more than weekend visits.

These shared experiences provide Airmen with a true "home away from home" and give Host Families the opportunity to make a lasting impact on the lives of those who serve.