Features

Volunteers answer the call

by Tech. Sgt. Anthony Plyler
86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
September 3, 2021
Airman 1st Class Christopher Uhrich, 86th Security Forces Squadron defender, plays with a child at Ramstein Air Base, Aug. 25. Security Forces members ensure that evacuees are safe and protected at their temporary lodging during Operation Allies Refuge.

U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa is providing temporary lodging, medical and logistical support to evacuees at Ramstein Air Base, as part of Operation Allies Refuge.

During this time, volunteers are working around the clock to sort, package and distribute donated items to evacuees.

“When the donation effort was stood up, the intent was to channel the compassion of the population into an actionable way to serve the immediate need of clothing deficits and appropriate weather clothing,” said U.S. Air Force Maj. Kevin Rasmussen, 86th Dental Squadron chief of oral and maxillofacial surgery. “It started out as a grassroots effort by the Kaiserslautern Military Community First Sergeant Council. The next phase was to create a distribution system for all of the donations, and then channel them to backfill the efforts of the Red Cross.”

The 86th Airlift Wing Emergency Operations Center is responsible for coordinating and delivering the donations twice a day. The kits are pre-packaged according to gender and age and then delivered.

“The volunteers are working so hard and people keep asking how they can do more,” said Heather Leonard, military spouse. “I’m so happy to see a community come together for strangers and to have so many give what they have, whether it’s donations or it’s their time.”

Nearly 100 volunteers a day, working side by side with the American Red Cross, have moved thousands of kits.

U.S. Air Force Doctors Chris Ng and David Bailey, 48th Medical Group general surgeons, pose for a photo at Ramstein Air Base, Aug. 25. Doctors and medical personnel from Royal Air Force Lakenheath were temporarily relocated to Ramstein Air Base to assist during Operation Allies Refuge.

“As their items deplete and they await more from their side, we are able to deliver and backfill their operations,” Rasmussen said. “This allows our distribution system to directly support the heroic efforts of our Red Cross volunteers.”

As evacuees depart, the wing’s augmented members assist in cleaning, reorganizing, and restocking the pods in preparation to receive more evacuees. It’s at that time that volunteers deliver the pre-made kits.

“We did what we do best in the military, which is identify a gap, create a process to mitigate it, find and support the manning and then test it out,” Rasmussen said. “This process, from the design, to changes, setbacks and then to miracles, has touched thousands, all because of those willing to give, adapt, serve and willing to find a way to make a miracle happen.”

Operation Allies Refuge is about humanity, it’s about taking care of people, saving lives and providing hope.

Marta Laatsch, military spouse, organizes donated clothing at Ramstein Air Base, August 26. In support of Operation Allies Refuge, hundreds of volunteers have organized and distributed donations to evacuees.
Xuenja Allison, military spouse, organizes donated clothing at Ramstein Air Base, August 26. Volunteers package and distribute donation collections to evacuees on Ramstein AB as part of Operation Allies Refuge.
U.S. Air Force Maj. Kevin Rasmussen, 86th Dental Squadron chief of oral and maxillofacial surgery stands in front of a clothing distribution center at Ramstein Air Base, August 26. The 86th Airlift Wing Emergency Operations Center delivers donations to evacuees twice a day during Operation Allies Refuge.
U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. David McCormick, U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa Band superintendent, moves donated goods at a clothing distribution center at Ramstein Air Base, August 26. In support of Operation Allies Refuge, hundreds of volunteers have organized and distributed donations to evacuees.
U.S. Air Force members and civilians volunteer at a clothing distribution center at Ramstein Air Base, August 26. Volunteers package and distribute donation collections to evacuees on Ramstein AB as part of Operation Allies Refuge.
« Previous × Next »