From Plane to Table: Reserve aircrew deliver food to thousands in Nicaragua

by 2nd Lt. Steve Lewis
512th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

12/23/2014 - MANAGUA, Nicaragua -- Donna Wright was anxiously peering out through a rusty fence on a humid Saturday afternoon when a C-5M Super Galaxy touched down on the runway.

She waved at the pilots as the mammoth plane made its way to a parking spot close to the passenger terminal. It was a rainy day in Managua, Nicaragua, so the ground crews at Augusto C. Sandino International Airport wasted no time meeting the C-5 with their two forklifts.

Inside the football field-sized cargo hold of the plane was 125,000 pounds of humanitarian aid, including rice, canned meat and pasta. The cargo was being delivered by U.S. Air Force Reserve Airmen from the 512th Airlift Wing, Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, and were going to feed 15,000 children in Nicaragua for the next six months.

To say Donna was excited would be an understatement. For the past 14 years she has been in Nicaragua with her husband, Larry, and had never set foot on a U.S. military aircraft delivering humanitarian aid to their organization.

"A C-5 plane full of humanitarian supplies, are you kidding? That is something that we could only imagine happening," said Donna. "It has been an honor to be able to receive the aid from the U.S. Military and the U.S. Air Force."

Mr. and Mrs. Wright run World Missions Outreach (locally known as Misiones de Alcance Mundial), an international nonprofit organization that provides food, shelter, education and ministry services to the people of Nicaragua. According to Donna, many of the children in Nicaragua live in extreme poverty in homes without access to indoor plumbing or electricity. Very little furniture also means these children are sleeping on dirt floors under tin roofs.  

Saturday's delivery of humanitarian aid by the 512th AW to Nicaragua was made possible through the Denton Program, which is a Department of Defense humanitarian assistance transportation program that utilizes space available military air, surface and sea-lift assets. Cargo delivered through the Denton Program is provided by donors or private charities and is shipped worldwide free of charge for applicants that request transportation support.

"The program provides donating agencies with a great opportunity to move humanitarian cargo to places like Nicaragua and it saves a tremendous amount of transportation costs for these organizations," said Ken Hundemer, director of operations, Denton Operations at Joint Base Charleston, S.C.

In fact, the Denton Program is one of the main reasons why Donna and World Missions Outreach have been able to continue providing food and other services to the people of Nicaragua.

"We were sending so many containers to Nicaragua each year that we were in great financial need. A few sponsors helped, but it wasn't nearly enough to cover the shipping cost." said Donna. "When we received the first shipment from the Denton Program everyone at World Missions Outreach were completely blown away! The Denton Program has been a game changer for WMO, and ultimately, a life changer for thousands of children."

The humanitarian mission to Nicaragua provided the 512th AW C-5M Reservists with an opportunity to train on the numerous aspects of operating and maintaining the aircraft. Pilots were able to conduct mission planning and meet flight hours, maintenance crew chiefs ensured the aircraft operated smoothly and loadmasters optimized the placement of cargo for a safe flight.

The relief supplies being delivered on behalf of the Department of Defense also supported the diplomatic efforts of the U.S. embassy in Nicaragua. Col. Matthew D. Anderson, senior defense official and attaché for the embassy, said the U.S. has been working to increase their cooperation with the Nicaraguan government on matters like humanitarian and disaster relief.

"Having the U.S. Air Force support us by delivering food to thousands of children here is a huge deal," said Col. Anderson. "The Dover C-5M and its aircrew were instrumental in participating in an important program."

For Donna Wright and World Missions Outreach, the delivery of humanitarian aid by the U.S. Air Force Reserve's 512th AW provides a lasting impact on her organization and the children in Nicaragua.

Back on the runway, Donna had the opportunity to observe the numerous pallets of food being transferred from the C-5M's outsized cargo area to the forklifts. It is a moment 14 years in the making for her witnessing the efforts of the aircrew members working side-by-side with the Nicaragua airport personnel. All 125,000 pounds of food were going to be safely stored in a warehouse, ready to be delivered to the empty bowls of hungry children throughout the country.

And just before the aircrew closed the C-5M ramp and began preparing the aircraft for its trip back home, Donna was able to shake the hands of everyone involved with Saturday's humanitarian mission and thanks them for their efforts.

"We have great pride in the United States and our service members on these humanitarian missions have brought food, school kits, health kits, clothes and shoes for the children here," said Donna. "We appreciate the help and support from our U.S. military and the Denton Program."