CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa — The response from the Okinawa military community to a call for humanitarian relief supplies for victims of the Christmas weekend earthquake and tsunami in South Asia has been so great that they have been asked to stop giving … for now.
“We just have too much,” said Navy Chaplain Steven Moses, acting base chaplain for Marine bases in Japan. He said that in just four days, people donated 40,000 pounds of clothing, food and other items.
“At the present time, we have received a sufficient amount of items for distribution to the affected areas,” he said.
“Everybody’s been overwhelmingly generous,” he said. “Yesterday we loaded up two 18-wheelers full of clothing, shoes, pots and pans and food and tomorrow we expect we’ll have another two or three to load up.”
Moses sent word Thursday afternoon asking donors to cease collections by Friday.
“As these items are transported to the region, we expect further guidance from our people in the affected areas on the specific needs around the region,” he said. “Once we know exactly what is needed downrange we can target specific items.”
He said he wanted to stop the flow of donations for now so that the chapels are not crammed with goods awaiting delivery at some unspecified time.
“This is truly a wonderful outpouring of generosity on the part of the military community on Okinawa,” he said. “I don’t think anybody thought we could collect so much in so short a time.”
Call the Camp Foster Chapel at DSN 645-7486 or DSN 645-2501 for further information about donations.
