KMC brings smiles to children’s faces

WARSAW, Poland — Two pallets filled with toys collected by the KMC 5/6 Club were recently loaded onto a C-130E Hercules and flown by the 37th Airlift Squadron from Ramstein to the Warsaw Frederic Chopin Airport in Poland.

The donated goods were destined for children in the Slovk, Poland area.
Three children from the My Home, My Future children’s home in Slvok travelled for hours to receive their gifts and meet U.S. Ambassador to Poland Victor Ashe and other Air Force servicemembers.

One boy, Patryk Kubik, even received a coin from Brig. Gen. Bill Bender, 86th Airlift Wing commander, to celebrate his 12th birthday.

“We are very happy to receive these gifts,” said Klaudiusz Dyjas, director of My Home, My Future. “Child care houses from around Slvok will benefit from this donation because there are so many toys.”

The children were not the only ones happy because of the gift donations.
“We are grateful for the U.S. Air Force and glad they are here,” Ambassador Ashe said. “It’s good to see smiles on the children’s faces.”

The 5/6 Club was also proud to be a part of the occasion.
“I was honored to meet the ambassador and felt very proud to represent such a wonderful organization as KMC 5/6,” said Staff Sgt. Michelle Miller, 17th Air Force commander’s support staff non-commissioned officer in charge and KMC 5/6 representative, who presented the toys to the children. “I was so happy to present the kids with the donated items; that was worth the whole trip.”

Tech. Sgt. Bryan Daniel, KMC 5/6 Club president, said a few of the organizations that contributed to the toy drive were the Airman’s Attic, Books R Magic used book store, the 86th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron and the Ramstein Girl Scouts.
“There were several people who showed up with entire vans full of goods,” he said. “This was truly an inspirational event, one that renews ones faith in the goodness of others.”

The KMC 5/6 Club has been no stranger to supporting the needs of both military and civilian organizations, Sergeant Daniel said.

“This trip to Poland fell right in line with what we do every day as public servants,” he said. “We are proud to have been able to contribute to the greater European good.”