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7 AF shows community support

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Marelise Wood
  • 7th Air Force Public Affairs
OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  
Since the beginning of winter, temperatures here have gotten down to single digits.  But with base heating turned on, residents have not had to worry about wintery temperatures in their homes.  However, for some members of our surrounding Korean community, heating their homes is an issue.

Some Korean homes use coal briquettes called "yeontan" for heating and cooking.  One yeontan costs about $0.50 and two can keep a home heated all night.  As a way to show support to the community that supports us, members of the Seventh Air Force A2, for the third year, have raised funds to purchase and provide yeontan to those in need.

"The whole project started through our good neighbor and honorary commander for 7 AF/A2S," said Tech. Sgt. Lola Howard, Seventh Air Force noncommissioned officer in charge of physical security.  "It started through them and they partnered with the Pyeongtaek Yeontan Naneum Bank."

The bank, a non-profit organization, maintains a list of applicants for the yeontan donations and recipients are chosen based on need. 

The unit set up a "GoFundMe" site where people can donate money all year round online.  In addition, they conducted two fundraisers on base. 

"Gift wrapping at the BX is where the majority of our funds came from this year," said Howard.  "This year is the most we've ever raised."

Overall, the unit raised over 2M Won, enough to buy 5,000 yeontan, which translates into heating assistance through the winter for 27 homes; enabling Howard's office to purchase more yeontan this year than they have in the previous years combined. 

"No one should freeze through the winter," said Howard.  "As an Air Force, as a family, we're always supposed to take care of each other, so if we have the opportunity to take care of someone else, take care of our Korean partners, then why not?" 

Ms. Kim, a 78-year-old residing in Shinjang-dong, was barely making a living gathering the recyclable papers in the street.  "I worried a lot about heating my house during the cold winter time," she said, "but now I can have warm winter, thanks to Yeontan donation by the Seventh Air Force military members.

"In the states we do volunteer opportunities and different projects," said Howard, "just because we're in Korea doesn't mean that stuff stops.  We want to continue that relationship and let the Koreans know that we care about them too." 

"I can feel the same warm heart, even though our races and nationalities are different," said Mr. Oh, Joong Keun, co-representative of Pyeongtaek Yeontan Naneum Bank.  "We are so happy because our Korean neighbors can spend a warm winter by heating their houses with Yeontan thanks to the Seventh Air Force members' donation."