Travis reservists team up with Sacramento firefighters for toy drive

by Senior Airman Cindy G. Alejandrez
349th Public Affairs

5/1/2013 - TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif.  -- Members with the 349th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron gathered approximately 1,500 toys to support the Firefighters Burn Institute, a non-profit organization which supports treatment facilities such as the burn centers at U.C. Davis Medical Center and Shiners Hospital for Children in Sacramento.

The institute, comprised of Sacramento area firefighters, also holds camps, conventions and provides counseling for victims.

Jim Doucette, executive director for the institute met with members of the 349th AMXS Rising Six to thank them for the donated toys and to highlight the work done by the institute. He also thanked Staff Sgt. Marcus Carrion, 349th AMXS Rising Six executive director for coordinating the toy drive. Carrion, who is an electrical and environmental systems technician with 349th AMXS, is a volunteer firefighter with the Georgetown Fire Protection District and a volunteer for Firefighters Burn Institute.

Doucette also brought along burn victim Chris Cvitanov to share his story. Cvitanov, was badly burned in a fiery vehicle accident in 2005. Just after the accident he only had a three to five percent chance of survival. Thankfully, Cvitanov recovered but had suffered life altering damage to his body, including the loss of most of his left leg. He explained that his emotional recovery was also difficult but has been eased by his participation with the institute.

"It is an absolute gift for me to be a part of this organization," said Cvitanov. "This organization has changed the lives for people who do not have resources."

Tech. Sgt. Michael S. Sligh, 349th AMXS Rising Six president said that stories such as Cvitanov's motive himself and the rest of the Rising Six to volunteer for the institute and they voted to adopt the Firefighters Burn Institute as their charity of the year and hope others in the 349th AMW join them.

"Giving back gives people things to look forward to," said Sligh. "Travis (AFB) is so busy and it's hard to commit to other things but the 349th (AMW) is just awesome. They want to participate in things like this."

Sligh, an auto-flight instrument navigation specialist, explained that the Rising Six would like to look for new innovative ways to help the institute raise funds because volunteering helps the individual Airman become a better Wingman.

"Volunteering with the institute is beneficial to both groups because they are helping a charity that is local, and because they're local we can see the end results. It's nice that you can close that loop when you are working with the local community," said Carrion.