ROME, N.Y. - More than 50 volunteers from the Eastern Air Defense Sector braved the damp, cold weather Dec. 7 to ring the bell for the Salvation Army's Red Kettle drive at Rome's Walmart.
The oldest annual charitable fundraiser of its kind, the drive raises money for toys, food, clothing and social service programs in local communities around the country.
"I'm pleased that so many of our Air Guardsmen volunteer their personal time to support community efforts," said Col. John Bartholf, EADS Commander. "Many of our Guardsmen live in the Rome area and volunteering is one of the ways they demonstrate their commitment to the local community."
The volunteers worked in one-hour shifts for 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. and raised $1,192, well above the $915 collected during last year's volunteer effort. The Salvation Army's fundraising goal in Rome this year is $75,000. The volunteers were off-duty from during their stint at the fund-raising kettle.
The Eastern Air Defense Sector is headquartered at Griffiss Business and Technology Park in Rome. Staffed by active-duty New York Air National Guardsmen and a Canadian Forces detachment, the unit supports the North American Aerospace Defense Command's integrated warning and attack assessment missions and the U.S. Northern Command's homeland defense mission. EADS is responsible for air sovereignty and counter-air operations over the eastern United States and directs a variety of assets to defend one million square miles of land and sea.