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Tinker receives donations from across the country for tornado victims

  • Published
  • By Mike W. Ray
  • Tinker Public Affairs
Donations to help victims of the May tornadoes have poured in from across the country.
Immediately after the May 20 tornado that struck Moore, Tinker leaders established the Emergency Family Assistance Center to give those affected a central place to find the help or supplies they need. And that's when the donations started coming in. The base received so many donations of food, clothing, household items and other supplies, three warehouses were required to hold it all, according to Rickie Smith, Airman and Family Readiness Center director.

"The outpouring of support has been absolutely incredible," said Col. Steven Bleymaier, 72nd Air Base Wing and Tinker installation commander.

"The response has been overwhelming," echoed Mr. Smith. Consequently, "We established a three-phase plan for distribution of the donated supplies," which have been stored in Bldgs. 902, 903 and 905, near the 3rd Herd complex.

"First, we opened the EFAC to anyone who was directly affected by the tornadoes. Then we opened it to anybody who works at Tinker; we are still in Phase 2. At some point, we will move to Phase 3 and donate whatever we have left to the Salvation Army or some other non-profit organization," Mr. Smith said.

Donated food and water will be depleted by the end of this week, but "tons of clothes" and miscellaneous household items are still available, he noted.

The following list shows monetary and in-kind donations the base has received since May 21 for tornado relief.

- Just over $11,000 in individual donations were made to the Tinker Family Readiness Fund General Fund.
- 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron from Nellis AFB, Nev., donated $215 to the TFRF General Fund
- 72nd ABW Booster Club donated $1,480 to the TFRF General Fund
- Air Force Association Gerrity Chapter donated $1,200 to the TFRF General Fund
- Air Warrior Courage Foundation donated $27,000 in $500 gift cards to individual families affected by the tornadoes
- Andrews AFB, Md., delivered 600 pounds of blues, ABUs and PT uniforms
- Beale AFB, Calif., donated clothing, household items and supplies
- Cannon AFB, N.M., donated $500 to Operation Warmheart
- Columbus AFB, Miss., donated $500 to Operation Warmheart
- Davis Monthan AFB, Ariz., donated a trailer full of furniture, clothing and household items
- Dollar Tree donated 60,000 pounds of water to the EFAC warehouse
- Dover AFB, Del., donated clothing, household items and supplies and several personnel drove to Oklahoma to assist with the relief effort
- F. E. Warren AFB, Wyo., donated $105 to the TFRC General Fund
- Feed the Children donated 36,000 pounds of food for individual families affected by the tornadoes
- General Mills donated 48,000 pounds of breakfast drinks to the EFAC warehouse
- Kadena AB, Japan, donated clothing, household items and supplies
- Kirtland AFB, N.M., donated clothing, household items and supplies
- KORB donated $150 to the TFRF General Fund
- Lackland AFB, Texas, donated clothing, household items and supplies
- McConnell AFB, Kan., donated clothing, household items and supplies. Also, several personnel drove to Oklahoma to assist with the tornado relief effort.
- Minot AFB, N.D., donated $2,000 to Operation Warmheart
- MLA Claims, LLC donated $100 to the TFRF General Fund
- Pole/Zero donated $250 to the TFRF General Fund
- Professional Services, Austin, Texas, donated $10,000 to the TFRF General Fund
- Offutt AFB, Neb., donated clothing, household items and supplies
- Operation Homefront donated $150,000 in $500 gift cards to individuals who were affected by the tornadoes
- RAF Lakenheath, England, donated clothing, household items and supplies
- Sheppard AFB, Texas, donated $782.84 to the TFRF and a trailer full of food, clothing and household items.
- Tinker Air Force Base (from Operation Warmheart) donated $9,500 to families affected by the tornadoes and donated $2,533 to Operation Warmheart from a local first sergeants' fundraiser
- Tinker Family Readiness Fund donated $5,000 so far to individual families affected by the tornadoes
- Tyndall AFB, Fla., donated $11,154.33 to Operation Warmheart
- Vance AFB, Okla., personnel drove to Moore to assist with tornado relief effort
- Veterans of Foreign Wars donated $10,000 delivered to the 72nd Air Base Wing command chief
- Residents from Michigan, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Texas, California and Oklahoma donated clothing, household items and supplies

"We are truly thankful for the continued support from across the services and the nation for Team Tinker," Colonel Bleymaier said. "It is making a difference for those in need!"