Operation Christmas Drop box-build complete

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Nichelle Griffiths
  • 36th Wing Public Affairs
ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam (AFNS) --  After 55 years running, Operation Christmas Drop is the Air Force's longest running humanitarian airlift mission. This year marks the 56th annual Operation Christmas Drop.

With only days left until boxes are delivered to the small islands of Micronesia, last-minute donations are still pouring in, and Operation Christmas Drop volunteers are working nearly non-stop to complete the box-build.

Airmen here participated in the final box-build Dec. 7.  The volunteers made sure each box contained non-perishable food items, clothing, first-aid kits, fishing supplies, tools and much more.

In all, more than 186 boxes were built, just 14 boxes shy of the 200-box goal set for 2008.

Through military and local community support, the Operation Christmas Drop organization has collected tens of thousands of donated items and raised more than $2,000 through fundraising since August.

"Sponsors have contributed more than $30,500, including an $8,500 donation by Andersen's chapel and $5,000 from the Andersen Officers Spouses Club," said Capt. Adam Rector, the vice president of the organization.

The Push Ceremony, where representatives from the local community and the base load the boxes onto the airlift aircraft is scheduled for Dec. 12. The air drops are scheduled to begin Dec. 17 and run through Dec. 21.

Operation Christmas Drop is a non-profit organization powered by volunteers from Andersen AFB and the 36th Airlift Squadron from Yokota Air Base, Japan. Every year as part of a training exercise, the two join forces to drop supplies over the Micronesian Islands.

More than 800,000 pounds of humanitarian supplies donated by local businesses, citizens and servicemembers have been dropped throughout the Micronesian Islands.

Comment on this story (comments may be published on Air Force Link)

View the comments/letters page