Cadet Squadron 06 helps Haitian earthquake victims

  • Published
  • By Ann Patton
  • U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (AFNS) --  Members of a cadet squadron here jumped into action after hearing about the severe earthquake in Haiti Jan. 12 that may have left more than 100,000 people dead.

With a can-do spirit, they set about doing their part to help the Caribbean nation that was, and is, desperately in need of assistance.

"We should do something," said Cadet 1st Class Jeff Faulkner, cadet service learning officer for Cadet Squadron 6.

With only the cost of some envelopes and poster board, the squadron completed an auction, offering everything from shoe shines, bed making and use of a privately owned vehicle for a weekend,

"I was hoping for $1,000. I would be happy with $20 or $200," Cadet Faulkner said before the auction. The squadron raised $2,037.

The economics major said more than half of the 117-member squadron joined forces to make it work, either through contributions or volunteer help.

He said proceeds will be forwarded to a Combined Federal Campaign-approved 501(c)3 charity.

Cadet Faulkner said the magnitude of the disaster drove the squadron to reach out to others. According to reports from several news media outlets, as many as 1.9 million people in the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince are without basic necessities such as food, water and shelter. The cadet remembered being at home in Spring, Texas, when accounts of the contributions came pouring in after Sept. 11, 2001, were made known, and he realized the devastation in Haiti, in terms of human lives lost and survivors' needs, far exceeded that tragedy.

Cadet Faulkner said it was no surprise the squadron heeded the call to help others and that the squadron typically goes out of its way to lend a hand. He cited, as one example, how cadets chip in readily to help others in their squadrons when a family member passes away and has no funds for airfare to travel home.

"We help one another out," he said.