100th OG members collect for wounded soldier item drive

  • Published
  • By Karen Abeyasekere
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
Galaxy Team 5/6 members from the 100th Operations Group took two-hour shifts from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the RAF Lakenheath Commissary, to collect donations for a wounded soldier item drive. 

"We collected more than 50 grocery carts-worth of items from military members and their families," said Master Sgt. Scott Dixon, 100th Operations Support Squadron. "The overall response from the community was tremendous - people were more willing to donate these items rather than money, as they could physically see where their money was going. We certainly didn't expect to get anything like we did," he said. 

Sixteen volunteers from the 100th OG gave their time over the weekend to collect the donated items for the Fisher House in Landstuhl, Germany. 

"People were very supportive and wanted to know what the Fisher House was and what else they could do to help," said Staff Sgt. Lisa Toro, 100th OSS Airfield Management Operations Flight, who was one of the volunteers. 

"I think almost every other person gave something to us for the drive - one family even donated a whole shopping cart of items!" she said. 

Members from the 100th OSS spent several hours Monday sorting out all the items - including paper plates, dishwashing liquid, toilet rolls and kitchen rolls, foil, food storage bags, packets of sugar and cleaning products - before inventorying them, ready to pack up for shipping. 

"I never anticipated the community would respond with this much support," said Sergeant Dixon. "Everyone that's come in here and seen the amount of items we have, has been totally in awe; it's just unbelievable. 

"A demonstration like this, of community involvement, restores my faith in Americans who come together to do something for the good of the community," he said. 

Storage boxes are still needed to package the items ready for shipping. Anyone who has large boxes they are willing to donate can call Sergeant Dixon at 238-7892.