Manas helpers receive a little help themselves

  • Published
  • By Maj. Adriane Craig
  • 376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
MANAS AIR BASE, Kyrgyzstan (AFPN) --  The two main Manas Air Base community service organizations received some assistance of their own Aug. 4, with a $10,000 donation.

The Royal Exodus Colonial Club donated $5,000 each to the Manas Air Base Outreach Society and the Manas Service Organization.

The Royal Exodus Colonial Club is a leisure club located at a forward operating location in Southwest Asia. Like the officers' club at many installations back in the United States and in Great Britain, the Royal Exodus Colonial Club is a place where members socialize after work. The difference is that all of the proceeds go to charity.

"Most of the money is really from the tips and donations," said British Squadron Leader Roger Newton, who traveled to Manas Air Base to see the base mission and present the money to the two organizations. "Everyone is very generous and all the work in the club is done by volunteers, so there's no overhead, really."

The organization, which has been around at least since 2003 has donated to charity work around the world. Recently the group also donated money to Djibouti. Previous donations have included support to a "breakfast club" to feed school children in Kenya and money to build wells in Uganda.

"It's really satisfying to see how much can be done," said Squadron Leader Newton. "In many of these places they have nothing, really."

Money also sometimes is donated to charitable groups in Europe or back in Great Britain, making the organization's reach truly global.

This is the second time Manas Air Base organizations have been selected by the Royal Exodus Colonial Club to receive money. The group donated $5,000 to support the base's Village Partnership Program at the beginning of the year.

The money the Manas Service Organization receives for village partnership program is used to buy materials to support community renovation projects in the six villages surrounding the base. This includes the renovations of schools, community centers and other public projects identified by the village mayors.

Manas Air Base Outreach Society is a first-time recipient of money from Royal Exodus Colonial Club. This volunteer service organization works with local charities to support the Greater Bishkek area. Outreach efforts include work with existing charities such as orphanages, medical facilities for children, elderly foundations, and Habitat for Humanity. Manas Air Base Outreach Society has focus groups with ten such organizations. Since its creation in December 2003, Manas Air Base Outreach Society has invested more than 35,000 hours in the local community.

"Both of these organizations are truly outstanding" said Squadron Leader Newton, "we have been massively impressed with what we've seen so far."

The money is welcomed by the organizations since they rely on combinations of donations, membership fees and fundraising to keep their organizations viable so they can continue community service in Kyrgyzstan.

"This money means a lot to the village partnership program," said Tech. Sgt. Chris Radcliffe, 376th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron member and treasurer for the Manas Service Organization. 

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