Airmen reach out, make a difference for Haiti

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Joel Mease
  • 501st Combat Support Wing Public Affairs
RAF ALCONBURY, United Kingdom --  When an earthquake devastated a country thousands of miles away, two 423rd Security Forces Squadron Airmen sprang to action raising funds for the Red Cross effort.

Days after the earthquake rocked Haiti, Airman Thomas O'Leary found himself wanting to help, but wasn't sure on how to start fundraising legally on RAF Alconbury.

"I initially wanted to see if I could start fundraising by setting up a donation system on base, but I wasn't (sure how) due to legal requirements," Airman O'Leary said.

Undeterred by the small setback, he was given an opportunity to speak at the Martin Luther King luncheon to bring awareness of the level of destruction in Haiti and what they could do to help.

Taking note of the effort Airman O'Leary wanted to accomplish, fellow squadron member Staff Sgt. Damian Constantine said it was important for him to help him get where he wanted to be. Sergeant Constantine knew what it took for the Airman to reach his goal.

"After helping me overcome the legal obstacles, he was able to get approval and from that point forward we hit the streets and started collecting," Airman O'Leary said.

"Airman O'Leary first approached others in an attempt to gather information on starting a fundraiser of this magnitude, but was justifiably overwhelmed as this is a massive task", Sgt. Constantine said. "So I initiated contact with 423rd Air Base Group executive officer and he quickly routed me to the appropriate parties and assisted with obstacles as they arrived. Leadership from legal provided the guidance and advice; their quick turnaround played an instrumental part as we wanted to quickly get this project off the ground."

Airman O'Leary finally hit the ground with a few other Airmen he was able to recruit and collected funds at various point on base.

"(We would) set up at the coffee shop, the Shoppette, the BX, the Commissary, or any other high traffic area, where we ask people for donations," he said. "Believe me, I've gotten many skeptical glances from people walking by a guy with a ripped flannel jacket with some beat up shoes asking for donations to the Haiti Relief, but usually these same people give as well, because being cops they know our faces quite well from working the gates."

"We have a grassroots approach (about raising money)," said Sgt. Constantine. "We have posted signs at various bus stops in the Tri-Base area and have used word of mouth as a tool."

Besides using the traditional method of collecting funds in person they also creating a bank account where anybody could deposit funds to their relief fund.

"The Community Bank was gracious and contacted their corporate headquarters who in turn quickly granted approval for the creation of a 'Haitian Earthquake Relief Fund' account," Sgt. Constantine said. "This account allows anyone to walk into any Community Bank and make a deposit using my name in conjunction with the Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund."

The account he created is an especially important item as it allows a person to donate money at any Community Bank in the U.K. or Germany to help the Red Cross in Haiti.

"A donation can be made in any form a check, or cash whether it be pounds, Euro, U.S. dollars or any other currency they have," Sgt. Constantine said. "One hundred percent of the donations will go directly to the American Red Cross in the form of a check."

Overall, the experience of getting a massive fundraising project off the ground has left a great impression on Airman O'Leary of the kindness people can display.

"It didn't matter if it was a hundred pounds or a few pennies with lint hanging off it; the point was most people I encountered were gracious enough to donate whatever they could spare, and often times donate again if they were to see me the following week," Airman O'Leary said. "The fact we were able to raise such a good amount of cash on such a small base for a group of people we will probably never see, shows the strength that this base has, but more importantly shows the caring that these individuals have for their fellow man."

The last day to donate to the Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund is March 15.