When her two sons left the nest to join the military and serve their country, 50-year-old Yelm resident June Hershey was left feeling kind of lost.

"I started wondering what I could do to help fill that void," Hershey said.

That's when she got in contact with the United Service Organization Puget Sound Area and expressed a desire to get involved volunteering to help military members.

Hershey started volunteering one day a week for the USO Center at McChord Field in February 2010. After the Airman Activities Center near the Airman's dormitories opened up earlier this year, Hershey started managing the USO's espresso machine and snack area inside the center for five hours each Sunday night. The experience turned into something much more than just cranking out coffee drinks and handing out snacks. Hershey routinely brings in board and card games to play with Airmen, and on Easter Sunday she brought in an Easter basket for her Airmen filled with treats and goodies. Several Airmen even call Hershey "Mom."

"This is the connection I was looking for as I miss my own kids," said Hershey, who has one son who's a staff sergeant in the Air Force and stationed in Japan and another who's a hospital corpsman in the Navy stationed in Washington, D.C.

Many of the McChord Airmen are about the same age as Hershey's sons, and come from all different parts of the county.

"I'm a little bit of stability for them on Sundays," she said. "I love to be of service to them because they're not able to be home with their families."

Hershey still works full-time for the state in the Health and Human Services sector, and said the Sunday shift at the activities center has been the perfect opportunity for her to have steady routine.  

"I just want to be there for them and meet any needs that I can," she said.

Hershey has gotten quite the following since she took over the Sunday night shift, said Tracye Kakely, USO McChord Center manager.

"She averages about 20 to 25 Airmen coming through per shift," Kakely said. "Her numbers are amazing."

But it's not about the numbers. It's more about creating a place where Airmen feel comfortable hanging out, Kakely said.

"(June) is amazing," Kakely said. "Her just loving the Airmen and being there has made such an impact."