Members Collect, Box, Load Planes For Shipment To Disaster Areas

Florida Wing members are helping collect, box and load planes with supplies for shipment to the disaster areas at the Lantana Airport in Palm Beach County, Fla.

With Lantana Cadet Squadron members taking the lead, CAP members are working with the initiators of this operation, Tara Pearl and her staff from Palm Beach Real Estate Inc.

This group of private citizens tapped into local resources, Winn Dixie, Rexall, local residents and businesses to get much needed supplies. Winn Dixie’s district manager, Larry Setlak was at the Lantana Airport Saturday with three tractor trailers containing over 100,000 pounds of goods.

Owen Gassaway, Lantana Airport manager, arranged airport safety procedures so the airport could securely accommodate the relief efforts and handle the private aircraft flying out with items for people in rural disaster areas.

Florida Wing Vice Commander Lt. Col. Art Giles was present to encourage and thank CAP senior members and cadets working to sort donations and load storage containers onto planes.

Lantana Cadet Squadron Commander Lt. Col. Robert Masiker said, “The Civil Air Patrol had three missions: emergency services, aerospace education and cadet programs. This type of operation is right up our alley.”

“When they (CAP) became involved, they pooled all their resources immediately and became fully committed – and boy do they have resources!” said Ms. Pearl. [ANN Salutes 1st Lt. Jackie Zarrilli, PAO, CAP FL Wing]

FMI: www.cap.gov