The people of Illinois help Kyrgyz stay warm and dry

  • Published
  • By Maj. Lisa Hess
  • 452 AMDS
MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE, Calif. --  
While I was deployed last year to the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, I saw a huge need for humanitarian supplies for the people of Kyrgyzstan. I mentioned this need to my parents, Roger and Carol Hess, from Red Bud, Illinois, and they decided to get the
ball rolling.

They first spread the word to my eight siblings who all live in Southern Illinois and, in turn, they spread the word through their community churches. Southern Illinois communities are caring, willing to help and generous. St. John's Catholic Church of Red Bud, St. Peter and Paul of Waterloo, St. Patrick's of Ruma and the Blood of Adorer's of Christ Convent of Ruma all participated in the collection of humanitarian aid.

The "Warm and Dry" mission at the Transit Center was specifically needing winter clothing and supplies. Within weeks, my family had collected a large amount of donations. Together with my parents, my siblings put in a lot of hard work and time into boxing, organizing and storing the donations. The items kept pouring in, and eventually they had to move the supplies to my brother's large shed as they waited for the next step in the process.

Meanwhile, I worked with the Transit Center's humanitarian coordinator, Maj. Ellliot Safdie, to complete the application for the Denton Program, which allows donors to use space available on U.S. military cargo aircraft to transport humanitarian goods to countries in need. This coordination process is complicated, and there were a few glitches along the way, but everyone continued to press forward.

Although I returned to California in October, my family didn't give up hope of the donations reaching the people of Kyrgyzstan. My family knew they had collected a large amount of donations, but were shocked when they learned they had collected 5,400 pounds, which is significantly in excess of the required 2,000 pounds for the Denton Program.

Finally, in January, a group of very kind and generous Airmen from Scott Air Force Base, Ill., traveled to Red Bud to pick up the donations. Staff Sgt. John Ruiz was so kind and dedicated
to the cause that he rallied 10 privately owned vehicles to pick up the shipment, which, at that point, had come to a logistical standstill.

Scott Air Force Base personnel kept us informed on the journey of the shipment along the way, and we were surprised to learn the donations were transported by a C-17 Globemaster III from March Air Reserve Base. The shipment passed through Baltimore and Germany, before eventually arriving at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, last month.

Although this shipment of humanitarian aid has taken months to reach its destination, it is not too late. The people experience very harsh winters that can last well into April. The "Warm and Dry" mission is still in full swing. The humanitarian assistance program at Manas will deliver the supplies to the people in need in Kyrgyzstan, especially to the villages and rural areas.

The people of Kyrgyzstan are wonderful people, and the supplies will not only help them stay warm through the many winters to come, but will also strengthen the relationship with the U.S. by showing the Kyrgyz that the people of the U.S. care about them.

I'm really proud of my family and the people from my hometown and surrounding area. They are in the heart of the Midwest and they demonstrate the goodwill, generosity and caring spirit that are so prevalent there.