by Airman 1st Class Jose L. Hernandez
Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs
8/2/2011 - MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. (AFNS) -- Among the several organizations ready to support Airmen and their families here in times of need is Operation Warmheart. Its mission is to provide emergency grants to base members.
Run by the first sergeants here, the organization has received more than $25,000 in donations and has seen contributions come in from areas all across the country.
Master Sgt. Patrick Lund, the 5th Medical Group first sergeant, said he was very thankful for the donations that have come in since the start of the flooding situation in Minot.
"Well before the floodwaters actually crested the levees, we saw money coming in to help out our Airmen," Lund said. "The Air Force family has really provided Operation Warmheart with generous contributions, and the outreach is very much received and appreciated."
As stewards of the donations, the first sergeants created a separate account dedicated for flood relief use. This is in addition to the standard operating account used throughout the year for typical donations to Operation Warmheart.
Lund said some of the funds have already been used to provide resources to individuals who moved into the emergency shelter on base.
"When folks moved into shelter, we began to provide breakfast, lunch and dinner foods for them," he said. "We provided them a fridge and freezer as well."
He explained the last thing people probably grabbed during the immediate evacuation order was food, as many were busy packing their suitcases with essential items and belongings.
In addition to providing aid at the shelter, Lund said Operation Warmheart also provided funds to buy fuel for water pumps used in clean-up efforts. Affected Airmen were given the opportunity to request help in pumping out water from their basements.
Lund said the organization is open to ideas for further use of funds.
"We are asking for ideas to be submitted to first sergeants so they can be brought up at our council meetings," Lund said. "We'll take any ideas including supplying buildings with resources or providing Airmen with cleaning supplies."
Lund said he foresees requests for direct funds from affected Airmen to be slow at first, but as time progresses, those using their Federal Emergency Management Agency and insurance money might realize that their expenses may be more then they expect.
"We anticipate folks to come to their first sergeants, talk to them and say they've exhausted these resources and are looking for extra help," Lund said. "We will be there to help out our Airmen over the long term. We don't know where this is going but we want to make sure that Operation Warmheart is there for our Airmen."
Comments
2/25/2012 11:33:12 AM ET Pat was not the only first sergeant that helped with this. Master SGT. James Morgan helped with it too and a few more and all of the airmen and other people who helped played a huge role in all of this.
