Yokota Red Cross

Courtesy of 374 AW Public Affairs

6/13/2011 - YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan – Members of the Educational and Developmental Intervention Services opened the lending library located inside the 374th Medical Group Annex at building 1585, room LA22 at Yokota, June 10.

The lending library is a special library that is equipped with items such as, developmentally appropriate toys, children’s books, educational resources and therapeutic games for children with special needs.

The library is available to children that are qualified to receive services from the EDIS program and is open every Friday from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.

“Any child receiving occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech and language pathology, early childhood special education, clinical social work or psychology services on their Individualized Family Service Plan or their Individualized Education Program are eligible to use the library,” said Jennifer Hoggatt, EDIS certified occupational therapy assistant.

The purpose of the lending library is to loan items to the families that receive our services and allow them the opportunity to use these special items in their child’s most natural environment while addressing their developmental concerns.”

The lending library is the first of its kind at Yokota, and according to EDIS staff, is the first and only kind in Pacific Air Forces.

The library was developed through the Military Hospital Outreach Program with the help of Yokota’s Red Cross and in collaboration with the Yokota Officers Spouses Club representatives of the Yokota Interagency Coordinating Council.

The EDIS program is available at military installations throughout mainland Japan.

To find out more information on enrolling in EDIS, parents can make a self referral by contacting their local agencies to schedule a screening for their child or they can request a referral from their child’s pediatrician or primary care manager.

For more information on the lending library or any other EDIS programs, call 225-9993.

by Airman 1st Class Lynsie Nichols
374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

On May 18, 2011 the Red Cross held it’s annual Volunteer Recognition Dinner to acknowledge and thank all of the volunteers who have volunteered their own time to the Red Cross the past year. Many thanks to all of those who have volunteered.

May 11, 2011 marked what some would say is a “revolution in rehabilitation” at Yokota AB, Japan.  The $38,000 AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill® was given to the physical therapy department at the 374th Medical Group as a gift from the Red Cross through the Military Hospital Outreach Program (MHOP). Yokota AB is the first base in the Air Force to get the treadmill and the first base in PACAF to have one.

The goal of the anti-gravity treadmill is to cut rehabilitation time (averaging 5 to 6 months) for lower limb injuries in half the time, allowing service members to return to duty as quick as possible following an injury or surgery. The treadmill is FDA-approved to aid in rehabilitation following: an injury or surgery of the lower extremity; total joint replacement (hip or knee); gait training in neurologic patients; and weight control and reduction.

The anti-gravity treadmill uses a unique differential air pressure technology to provide unweighting, down to 20 percent of a patients weight and can be increased in 1 percent increments. This technology allows a patient to exercise at a pain free level following an injury or surgery.

On Thursday, April 21 at 1300hrs and 1800hrs the Red Cross will hold a mass orientation for those interested in becoming a volunteer. If you’re interested please stop by the AFRC auditorium at either time to complete your application and background check.

We hope to see you there!

In an effort to raise more money for disaster relief for areas affected by the earthquake and tsunami on March 11, Yokota held a fund raising benefit on Saturday, April 18, 2011. Japanese and American bands performed at the  Sakura Shell, located on the east side of base, giving rise to the name “Tomodachistock.” It was a day filled with a  full spectrum of music performed by:

Car Bomb (Irish Pub Music)
Hot L (Rock)
Tr3s (Latin Jazz)
AT*69 (80′s Rock)
Days Gone By (Acoustic Rock)
Army Rock Band (Rock)
PACAF Band (Rock)

 

Several organizations sold t-shirts, food, and beer in an effort to raise money, as well as donations made to the Red Cross itself. Until the day of the event, the Red Cross had raised $24,000 and hoped to match that goal at Tomodachistock. The Red Cross succeeded in raising $23,366.90 from the Yokota community in just the span of 7 hours.

So far the American Red Cross has raised and donated over $120 million to disaster relief in Japan. The money donated will go to the Japanese Red Cross, that provides emergency relief, medical services, and counseling those affected by the disaster.

Donations can still be made by logging on to: www.redcross.org or going to the Yokota Red Cross office located in the AFRC building.

April 11-15 was volunteer recognition week and the Red Cross showed their appreciation to all the volunteers by hosting a Bar-b-que  lunch FREE of charge. Some of the food items were donated by the commissary and Red Bull. Participants enjoyed hamburgers, hotdogs, chips, and drinks.

 

The past months events have brought together many volunteers across the Yokota community. Hosting a free bbq lunch is the least the Red Cross could do to say “thank you” to our volunteers.

Yokota Commissary is partnering with American Red Cross to say THANK YOU to all the Volunteers who have help our community. Regardless of your role, please join us for lunch. Stop by the Commissary on Thursday, April 14th from 1100-1300 hrs for a FREE BBQ. American Red Cross leadership staff will be cooking up burgers and dogs for YOU, our Yokota volunteers.

Though at their safe haven in Philadelphia , two Yokota children wanted to help with relief efforts here in Japan. Six-year-old Gavin and four-year-old Evelyn Bull, with the help of their mother, made pins with red and white ribbon to give to family and friends in hopes for donations to give to the Red Cross. So far they have raised $212. The donated money was presented (pictured) to Senior Director of Financial Development Erik Michael at the American Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapter.

 

This story is one of many efforts to raise money for the Japan disaster relief fund. If you’d like to make a donation please contact your local Red Cross office or visit www.redcross.org. You can never be too far away to let someone know you care.

 

On April 10, 2011 Yokota Air Base opened it’s gates to Japanese locals  for a three-hour event that featured music from a joint Army-Air Force brass quintet, as well as fundraisers for disaster relief. More than 1,500 Japanese locals attended the celebration to enjoy the cherry blossoms running along McGuire Ave. on the East side of the base.

The celebration comes in the wake of the 9.0 magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami that struck northeastern Japan on March 11. In part of Operation Tomodachi, donations collected by the Red Cross during this event will be used to help those effected by the disasters.

“In light of recent events, there’s not a lot to celebrate, so if there’s anything we can be joyful about, it’s the partnership we have with our friends and neighbors here,” said Col. Otto Feather, 374th Airlift Wing commander. “Our Japanese hosts treat us very well and take care of us all year long, so we wanted to welcome them on to Yokota and celebrate the season together.”

Original story by Staff Sgt. J.G. Buzanowski
374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monetary donations can be made at www.redcross.org

 

Red Cross volunteers help passengers who are voluntarily relocating.

Passengers from Yokota, Yokosuka, Camp Zama, and Atsugi process at the Taiyo and Enlisted-Club before boarding their flights back to the United States.