YARS loads humanitarian cargo for Honduran "Mission of Love"
YOUNGSTOWN AIR RESERVE STATION, Ohio -- Air Force Reserve Master Sgt. Kevin Massie, superintendent of the 76th Aerial Post Squadron, based here, watches as Tech. Sgt. Tom Kocis, a aerospace maintenance craftsman assigned to the 910th aerial spray maintenance flight, also based here, moves a ground cargo handling vehicle, known as a "k-loader" towards the hatch of a KC-10 cargo aircraft on the YARS flighline, Dec. 17. Sergeants Massie and Kocis are part of an effort to transport 47,500 pounds of humanitarian cargo collected by Austintown, Ohio-based "Mission of Love" for residents in the communities of Santa Rita, Yora ~ Honduras affected by flooding and mudslides in hopes the aid will brighten their Christmas and holiday season. The KC-10 cargo aircraft is assigned to the 514th Air Mobility Wing, based at McGuire Air Force Base, NJ. Air Force Reservists from the 514th will transport the humanitarian aid to the east coast where it will then be flown to its ultimate destination in Central America. "Mission of Love" is a non-profit organization that provides humanitarian aid to those in need worldwide, especially children. The group is working with the U.S. Air Force Reserve through the Denton Program, which allows private U.S. citizens and organizations to use space available on U.S. military cargo planes to transport humanitarian goods, such as clothing, food, medical and educational supplies, agricultural equipment and vehicles, to countries in need. The program is jointly administered by a government agency known as USAID, the Department of State (DOS), and the Department of Defense (DOD). U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Bob Barko Jr.