MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan — Red Feather Campaign organizers and supporters will make one last push this weekend to raise money for the needy living in local communities near base.
Red Feather — which stands for courage and good conduct — is a nonprofit organization on base that annually seeks charitable donations for the elderly, destitute, physically and mentally handicapped and orphaned children in the Misawa area.
It differs from the Combined Federal Campaign — another large charity drive at military bases overseas — in that donations go to local communities in Japan, rather than stateside or international organizations, said Senior Master Sgt. Oscar Williams, Red Feather Campaign project officer.
“This helps people outside of our gate,” Williams said, adding that the Red Feather charity drive began in 1958 and occurs throughout Japan.
The Red Feather Campaign is a way for people in Japan covered by the status of forces agreement “to give money back to the local communities,” he said. “The money raised here is used in the Misawa community.”
Last year, Misawa’s Red Feather committee gave $18,000 to that community. Williams said the group is expecting to raise more than $15,000 this year.
This year’s campaign started Sept. 1 and ends Sunday.
This weekend, several groups are to hold Red Feather fund-raising activities on base.
Naval Security Group Activity is sponsoring a Red Feather Fall Fest and Car Show on Saturday in the Mokuteki ballroom and parking lot from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The registration fee for displaying an automobile or motorcycle is $10 — also the entry fee for the break-dancing contest. Hamburgers, hot dogs, lumpia (a traditional, eggroll-like Filipino appetizer) and funnel cake will be sold. Call Petty Officer 1st Class Cheryl Sanders at DSN 222-7077 for more information.
Williams said representatives from the base’s Airman Leadership School are to be collecting donations at the base exchange on Saturday. This week, Sollars Elementary School is holding a coin drive, in which students can turn in different U.S. or Japanese coins each day; Cummings Elementary School previously held a similar fund-raiser, Williams said.
About 75 Red Feather collection cans also set up in unit shops.
Call Williams at DSN 226-4609 to donate or for more information.
