From Camp Eggers in Kabul, Afghanistan, 1st Lt. Daniel Watson sends appreciation for Turlockers Fin Johnson, Wayne Turnbow, and their Rotary Club of Turlock for contributing greatly to the Camp Eggers Volunteer Community Relations (VCR) mission. Individuals, churches, small businesses, elementary schools, scouting and military-affiliated organizations throughout the U.S. donated clothing, shoes, hygiene, and education supplies to the mission.
The Camp Eggers VCR mission is an all-volunteer force based out of Camp Eggers, Kabul under NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan and Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan umbrella.
Every week, military members, contractors, Department of Defense civilians, coalition members, non-governmental charitable organizations, the State Department and local Afghans, come together and prepare donations for distribution to schools, orphanages, medical centers and refugee camps in the Kabul area. They also send boxes to the U.S. military at remote locations which includes food, snacks, hygiene items, calling cards and games. Volunteers, with assistance from the Afghan National Security Force, distribute the supplies to children, the elderly, and families.
“Most donors will send one or two boxes, and we thank each donor by mailing them a certificate of appreciation,” said Theresa Sorenson, co-lead for Camp Eggers VCR mission. “However, there are a few individuals/organizations who donate on a regular basis or have provided enough supplies at one time to execute a mission.”
“Two donors who stands out from the rest, Rotarians Fin Johnson & Wayne Turnbow, of the Rotary Club of Turlock, has sent a box each month since I’ve been involved with the program,” said Chaplain George Adams, NTM-A command Chaplain. “One month, we received 30 boxes of clothing and school supplies from them.”
The Rotary Club of Turlock’s website home page has a slogan, "Building Communities, Bridging Continents" and they did just that by supporting this special humanitarian mission.
“Because of donors like the Rotary Club of Turlock, we are able to provide more help to Afghanistan and reach more areas, which would not otherwise receive aid,” said Sorenson. “By supporting this volunteer mission, they are directly supporting the war by assisting in rebuilding Afghanistan and strengthening ties with local Afghan communities. This mission can continue only with the generosity and support of organizations as dedicated as the Rotary Club of Turlock.
The VCR mission can be found on Facebook. Anyone interested in donating items for the Afghans, can mail packages to Chaplain Adams; VCR Pool House, APO AE 09356. Boxes for military at isolated bases can be sent to Chaplain Gilroy, at the same address. You can also find out more about the Rotary Club of Turlock and their other meaningful service projects at www.turlock.org.
