Airmen make seasons brighter for local community

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Marissa Tucker
  • 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  Members of the Air Terminal Operations, 4th Logistic Readiness Squadron hope to make the holidays brighter for members of the local community by hosting a clothing and food drive during the month of November.

The drive will benefit residents of the Fordham House, a non-profit organization that provides clothing and shelter for more than 40 men, women and children in the Goldsboro area. The drive is being held to benefit all residents of the shelter, said Staff Sgt. John Edwards, 4 LRS air transportation technician who is heading the drive.

"The Air Transportation office usually does a clothing drive or something of that nature every year, but this year we are trying to give more than we ever have," said Edwards.

The relationship between the squadron and the shelter began as a chance encounter, said Tech. Sgt. Chester Moore, NCOIC of air terminal operations. As he was getting his hair cut, he noticed a long line of people outside the Fordham House and inquired on what the shelter actually offered.

"Since then, I've just been donating things or going to help in any way I can," said Moore, who regularly visits the shelter. "There's always something to do there and there's always things they need."

Normally, the air transportation section donates year-round to the Fordham House, but during the holiday season, they try to bring a heftier contribution. During 2010, because of a large deployment, the flight was unable to make their usual holiday donation and hope to make up for it this year.

The Fordham House operates three shelters, including a halfway house, where residents are able to stay for an indefinite time, decreasing the amount of homeless people in the city. With all the demands of housing more than 40 people and providing meals, clothing and personal hygiene items for more than 2,000 people, the shelter can always use donations.

"The director will tell you, they take anything, within reason," Moore said.

People wishing to donate clothing, food, personal hygiene items or toys to the shelter can drop them off at the Air Transportation Operations before Nov. 22, as they hope to deliver the items collected before Thanksgiving. For more information about the drive, call Edwards at (919) 722-3798 or for more information about the Fordham House, call (919) 736-7352.