LOUISVILLE, Ky. - When members of the Kentucky Air National Guard's 123rd Airlift Wing deployed to the Dominican Republic in 2010 following the earthquake that struck neighboring Haiti, they established a critical airlift hub that delivered more than 600 tons of food and medical supplies to Haitian citizens.
Now, as part of a humanitarian aid program run by the U.S. Agency for International Development, Airmen from the Kentucky unit are continuing to help their Haitian neighbors.
About 88,000 pounds of food and other supplies were shipped here recently for palatalizing and uploading to U.S. Air Force transports bound for the Caribbean island nation.
"Our piece of the mission is supporting the delivery of and subsequent airlift of cargo and supplies," said Chief Master Sgt. Ray Dawson, air terminal superintendent for the 123rd Logistics Readiness Squadron. "We assist in coordination of aircraft, buildup of cargo onto pallets for air shipment, inspection of the cargo and loading of the cargo onto aircraft for shipment."
That effort is part of The Denton Program, an ongoing commodity transportation project jointly administered by USAID, the State Department and the Department of Defense. It allows private U.S. citizens and organizations to use space available on U.S. military cargo planes to transport humanitarian goods at no charge, USAID officials said.
Dawson said the Kentucky Air Guard has been involved with the Denton Program for several years and is pleased to continue the unit's earlier work in Haiti.
"Our Wing was on the front line, back at the base and in the deployed location, back in 2010," he said. "We witnessed every day the needs and struggles of the people of Haiti."
And that includes long term needs as well.
"The needs of the Haitian people and other countries affected by disasters remain for years after the initial relief efforts cease," Dawson said. "The men and women of the Kentucky Air National Guard remain committed to providing relief to those in need, any time, anywhere."