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ArticleCS

315th AW delivers humanitarian aid to Honduras

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Scott Mathews
  • 315th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
SOTO CANO AIR BASE, Honduras (AFNS) --  

Airmen from the 315th Airlift Wing deployed a C-17 Globemaster III Feb. 1 to deliver donated humanitarian aid to Honduras in support of the Denton Program.

The Denton Program is a Department of Defense transportation program that moves humanitarian cargo, donated by U.S. based non-governmental organizations, to developing nations. The program helps move donations to ensure proper delivery while simultaneously providing training hours for aircrews.

On this flight, the 701st Airlift Squadron delivered more than 11,000 pounds of mobility healthcare items such as wheelchairs, wheeled walkers, pick-up walkers and crutches. The charity, Helping Hands for Honduras, picked up the items from the jet just after landing at Soto Cano Air Base for delivery to a local public hospital in Danli.

The Denton Program office said once the hospital receives the donated items, they will be able to start using them immediately. The majority of the patients that need these mobility items aren’t able to buy these types of equipment and the hospital doesn’t have the resources to get them.

“The Denton Program is a great mission that helps our charity distribute donations of much needed medical items from all over to patients and organizations who can’t afford them,” said Ronald Roll, co-founder and executive director of Helping Hands for Honduras. “We’ve received a lot of shipments through the Denton Program, helping many people in Honduras, and are so very appreciative to all associated with the program including the Air Force.”

The donating agencies, Interfaith Services to Latin America and Mano a Mano International, are both based out of Minnesota. All the donations were brought in from Minnesota and then transported to Honduras.

Most of the donations come from Goodwill-Easter Seals. Two groups out of Minnesota have volunteers that go to the Goodwill warehouses to sort and select the surplus equipment, and volunteers pack up the shipment for Honduras.

According to the Denton Program office, approximately 700 men, 700 women and 100 children in Honduras will benefit just from this load of cargo.

Also, on the flight were 16 Airmen from the 315th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron who were on board to conduct an aeromedical readiness mission.

“In addition to running medical scenarios, we also need to be familiar with our aircraft,” said Senior Master Sgt. Michelle Geers, 315th AES, mission clinical coordinator on this flight. “Running these scenarios helps us stay current and qualified as aircrew and ready to deploy (within continental United States), (outside of continental United States) or for any global humanitarian aid.”

Pilots, loadmasters, flying crew chiefs and Aeromedical Evacuation personnel must all fly regularly to stay current on their training. These missions help these Joint Base Charleston Reserve Airmen get their required training while delivering items to those in need.

“Anytime we can combine missions where multiple squadrons and countries benefit is a huge win,” Geers added.

For more information on the Denton Humanitarian Assistance Program visit https://www.ustranscom.mil/mov/denton.cfm.

Slide show

315th AW delivers humanitarian aid to Honduras

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Scott Mathews
  • 315th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
SOTO CANO AIR BASE, Honduras (AFNS) --  

Airmen from the 315th Airlift Wing deployed a C-17 Globemaster III Feb. 1 to deliver donated humanitarian aid to Honduras in support of the Denton Program.

The Denton Program is a Department of Defense transportation program that moves humanitarian cargo, donated by U.S. based non-governmental organizations, to developing nations. The program helps move donations to ensure proper delivery while simultaneously providing training hours for aircrews.

On this flight, the 701st Airlift Squadron delivered more than 11,000 pounds of mobility healthcare items such as wheelchairs, wheeled walkers, pick-up walkers and crutches. The charity, Helping Hands for Honduras, picked up the items from the jet just after landing at Soto Cano Air Base for delivery to a local public hospital in Danli.

The Denton Program office said once the hospital receives the donated items, they will be able to start using them immediately. The majority of the patients that need these mobility items aren’t able to buy these types of equipment and the hospital doesn’t have the resources to get them.

“The Denton Program is a great mission that helps our charity distribute donations of much needed medical items from all over to patients and organizations who can’t afford them,” said Ronald Roll, co-founder and executive director of Helping Hands for Honduras. “We’ve received a lot of shipments through the Denton Program, helping many people in Honduras, and are so very appreciative to all associated with the program including the Air Force.”

The donating agencies, Interfaith Services to Latin America and Mano a Mano International, are both based out of Minnesota. All the donations were brought in from Minnesota and then transported to Honduras.

Most of the donations come from Goodwill-Easter Seals. Two groups out of Minnesota have volunteers that go to the Goodwill warehouses to sort and select the surplus equipment, and volunteers pack up the shipment for Honduras.

According to the Denton Program office, approximately 700 men, 700 women and 100 children in Honduras will benefit just from this load of cargo.

Also, on the flight were 16 Airmen from the 315th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron who were on board to conduct an aeromedical readiness mission.

“In addition to running medical scenarios, we also need to be familiar with our aircraft,” said Senior Master Sgt. Michelle Geers, 315th AES, mission clinical coordinator on this flight. “Running these scenarios helps us stay current and qualified as aircrew and ready to deploy (within continental United States), (outside of continental United States) or for any global humanitarian aid.”

Pilots, loadmasters, flying crew chiefs and Aeromedical Evacuation personnel must all fly regularly to stay current on their training. These missions help these Joint Base Charleston Reserve Airmen get their required training while delivering items to those in need.

“Anytime we can combine missions where multiple squadrons and countries benefit is a huge win,” Geers added.

For more information on the Denton Humanitarian Assistance Program visit https://www.ustranscom.mil/mov/denton.cfm.

Edwards provides care, opportunities for children aged six weeks through high school graduation

Edwards provides care, opportunities for childrenaged six weeks through high school graduation

The Child and Youth Program at Edwards AFB provides care and opportunities for kids ages six weeks old through high school graduation. A brief summary of those services follows:

  •                    The Child Development Center cares for children ages 6 weeks to 5 years, with a DOD-wide curriculum. The curriculum is focused on learning through play activities supporting social, emotional, physical and intellectual development. Installations across DOD follow the curriculum on the same timeline to allow seamless permanent change-of-station transitions for youth enrolled in care.
  •                    The School Age Center provides before and after-school care and summer camp for children ages 5 to 12. During school breaks, full-day camps are offered. SAC promotes cognitive, social, emotional, cultural, language and physical development through programs that encourage self-confidence, curiosity, self-discipline and resiliency.
  •                    The open recreation program at the Main Youth Center provides a safe space for ages 9 to 12 to attend after school. Programs include Power Hour, STEM, Torch Club, social recreation, youth camps, special events and more.
  •                    The youth sports program provides intro and league opportunities for ages 3 to 12, and promotes inclusiveness, self-discipline, commitment, resiliency and social skills. There are four sports offered annually for ages five to 12: baseball/softball, soccer, flag football and basketball. Smart start programs are available to ages 3 to 5. There are many other sports and camps offered throughout the year.
  •                    The Teen Center is available for ages 13 to 18 during the school year. Programs offered include Military Youth of the Year, Keystone Club, social recreation, STEM activities, college trips, leadership camps and more.
  •                    Youth programs (SAC, open rec and teen) are affiliated with the Boys and Girls Clubs of America and 4-H.
  •                    Family Child Care homes – there are currently three FCC homes on the installation. They can provide care for ages two weeks to 12 years. FCC providers are trained by Child and Youth Program training and curriculum specialists and have the flexibility to determine their hours of operation and the ages of youth within their care. The program’s new dedicated manager, Jennifer Stegmann, may be reached at 661-275-7529.

Although CDC enrollment capacity is 317, not all slots are currently filled because of a shortage of childcare workers. School Age Center enrollment capacity is 156. After-school care enrollment is 130. Before-school care enrollment is 75. Summer Camp 2022 was at its capacity and enrollment for Summer Camp 2023 opens April 3.