Cops help homeless have happy holidays

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Matthew Hubby
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  The winter season is often a time to reflect on what one has done over the past year. For most, it is a period of happiness and joy with family and friends. But for more than 6,500 Delaware homeless people, it can be a time of coldness, sadness and hunger. That is unless Senior Airman DeAndre Harrington has anything to say about it.

The Dover Air Force Base Help the Homeless campaign, started by Harrington, a patrolman with the 436th Security Forces Squadron, is in its third year. This year, the charity collected 602 cans of food, and delivered it to the House of Pride homeless shelter. This donation will help more than 50 individuals.

"It always gives me a good feeling to see their faces when we bring the donations to the shelter," said Harrington. "Sometimes these people think we don't care. We do care, and we get a good turnaround with this campaign. We can show them we care."

The campaigns first leg - the non-perishable food drive, ended Dec. 2. Now the focus is securing coats and toys which will be delivered on Dec. 22. So far, the campaign has collected 11 toys and 20 coats.

"I started this campaign because my parents were less fortunate," said Harrington. "I wanted to do something to help others who were in need."

While traditionally spearheaded by security forces, the campaign was assisted this year by a volunteer from the 436th Aerial Port Squadron.

"This is my first year helping out," said Senior Airman Shameika Harvey, logistics manager for the 436th APS. "I saw it in an e-mail and wanted to help. I just wish we could get a little more participation from other squadrons."

Harvey placed flyers and donation boxes throughout APS in heavily traveled areas. The canned food donations from the APS supplied 68 of the 602 cans sent to the House of Pride.

"We are still doing the toy and coat drive, so I am hoping for a better turn out," said Harvey. "We had a goal of 1,000 cans of food, 1,000 coats and 1,000 toys. We didn't quite make it on the cans, but I am hoping that we do better on the coats and toys."

There is still an opportunity to start up a branch of the Help the Homeless campaign in other squadrons, said Harvey. Those interested should get in contact with Harrington if they would like to know more, or set up their own branch.

Those wishing to donate new or used coats and toys can drop their donations off at the security forces building, Building 910. Donated toys can be for any age.

"I just want to thank everybody who supported this campaign and helped out," said Harrington. "We could not have gotten this far without them."