SPREADING THE WORD ON ANGEL FLIGHT EAST
HARRISBURG, SEPT. 6 – As humanitarian efforts to help victims of Hurricane Katrina begin in earnest, state Sen. Connie Williams noted that a local nonprofit organization is playing an important role.
“Angel Flight East is known for providing free air transportation for medical and humanitarian efforts. The organization started 13 years ago in the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew, and now they have mobilized to help victims of Hurricane Katrina,” Williams said. “The pilots volunteer these missions and pay for their own gas and expenses. This is heartwarming example of people helping people during their time of need.”
Over the weekend, Angel Flight East began their efforts to assist victims of Hurricane Katrina. One pilot, Scott Welch of Williamsport flew to Winchester, VA to pick up 1,200 pounds of antibiotics from the Project Hope warehouse. He then flew to Roanoke, Virginia to pick up an obstetrician and a number of birthing kits and C-section kits. The final leg of his mission – complete with an aircraft filled to the brim with approximately $146,000 in medicine and medical supplies – was to the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport. The medication and medical supplies will be distributed to emergency hospitals and emergency facilities in the area. With the current price of fuel, the more than 10-hour mission cost the Angel Flight East volunteer over $2,000.
More than two dozen Angel Flight East volunteers from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and Delaware have offered their piloting expertise and their planes to assist in Katrina emergency efforts.
Angel Flight East also is offering people the opportunity to reconnect with their loved ones who were displaced or left homeless by Hurricane Katrina. By calling 1-800-383-WING (9464) Angel Flight East volunteers will fly to Gulf state airports and bring displaced or homeless family members back to their family in Philadelphia and surrounding areas. On Wednesday, one Angel Flight East volunteer is going to fly to an airport outside of Atlanta to pick up members of a displaced family and fly them to the Boston area.
Before contacting Angel Flight East to ask them to bring home displaced or homeless family members, the family in the Pennsylvania area must have made contact with their displaced family and know that their family members can reach an airport to be picked up.
Angel Flight East coordinated efforts over the Labor Day weekend with both Project Hope and City Hope. Additionally, they are making arrangements to work with Host for Hospitals, an organization that connects families in the Philadelphia area who want to open their homes to patients who travel to Philadelphia for hospital treatments that require extended stays. According to the Angel Flight East Mission Coordinator, many families have contacted Host for Hospitals and offered to open their homes to displaced and homeless families from the Gulf states. Angel Flight East will help coordinate and execute the rescue effort.
Individuals who would like to offer their support to Angel Flight East may send donations to help defray the cost of fuel and other expenses to Angel Flight East, 190 W. Germantown Pike, Suite 155, East Norriton, PA 19401. Additionally, the organization is holding its 16th annual Vintage Aircraft & Classic Car FunFest from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10th at Wings Field in Blue Bell. This is the group’s major fundraiser.
“I’ve heard from so many people who want to help the families in the Gulf states,” Williams said. “This is another way that everyone can become involved in rescue and relief efforts. I will continue to update information on relief efforts and have program and organization contact information available at my district offices.”
Williams’ offices can be contacted in King of Prussia at 610-992-9790 and in the Manoa Shopping Center, Havertown at 610-853-5433.