Airman Marcus Straughn hangs donated clothes at a Salvation Army center in Gulfport, Miss. Airmen from Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., have logged more than 38,000 volunteer hours since Hurricane Katrina. Airman Straughn is an aviation resource trainee at Keesler AFB. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Larry A. Simmons)
Airmen from Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., organize, sort and stock donated items for the community of Gulfport, Miss. Airmen from Keesler AFB have logged more than 38,000 volunteer hours since Hurricane Katrina.(U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Larry A. Simmons)
Airman Michael Kearny clears debris from a site designated to be a new Salvation Army center in Gulfport, Miss. Airmen from Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., have logged more than 38,000 volunteer hours since Hurricane Katrina. Airman Kearny is a ground radar technician trainee with the 338th Training Squadron at Keesler AFB. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Larry A. Simmons)
Airmen from Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., clears debris from a site designated to be a new Salvation Army center in Gulfport, Miss. Airmen from Keesler AFB have logged more than 38,000 volunteer hours since Hurricane Katrina. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Larry A. Simmons)
by Tech. Sgt. Larry A. Simmons
Air Force Print News
4/9/2006 - KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. (AFPN) -- After the devastation from Hurricane Katrina left the base and the surrounding area in dire straits, the community desperately needed help to recover. Airmen here have answered that call.
“We were in crisis mode right after the hurricane trying to make sure people had the bare minimum to survive,” said Maj. Teresa Roberts, director of the family support center.
Since Hurricane Katrina, the center has logged more than 38,000 volunteer hours supporting all facets of the rebuilding effort. They are still handling about 10 requests per week with assisting in clearing hurricane debris and programs by Habitat for Humanity and the Salvation Army.
Major Roberts credits the overwhelming numbers of volunteers from Keesler in the success of their efforts not just on base, but in the surrounding communities as well.
“Their hearts are so in it, we have people coming out on their down days to help. They just have the desire to do more and more,” she said.
Some of those volunteers include Airmen attending one of the technical training schools here. One of those volunteers, Airman Marcus Straughn, an aviator resource management trainee from Georgiana, Ala., said he is happy to be part of the recovery effort.
“It all goes back to elementary school where I learned to do onto others as you would have them do to you,” he said. “It gives me a warm feeling in my heart knowing I have been able to make a difference.”
With the recovery effort still going strong and volunteers still doing what they can to make a difference, Major Roberts summed up the process.
“Being a volunteer is being a part of a winning team,” she said. “As a community we are starting rebuild, but the need is going to be here for a while.”
