Members from four nonprofit organizations retrieved 180,000 pounds of medical supplies and humanitarian aid delivered through the Denton Program from Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, Nov. 18-19.
The Denton Program is a Department of Defense humanitarian assistance transportation program that moves humanitarian cargo, donated by United States-based non-governmental organizations to countries in need.
The medical supplies arrived at Soto Cano AB via a C-5M Super Galaxy from Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, Nov. 7.
Service members from the 612th Air Base Squadron, Joint Task Force-Bravo, assisted with the offload and storage of the delivery while awaiting pickup by nonprofit organizations.
"Today's pickup is roughly 30 tons, and this is the 15th pickup I have been involved in. Over time, we have built relationships throughout Honduras that allow us to tailor our deliveries and ensure medical facilities receive the items they specifically need," said Brian Smith, Helping Hands for Honduras chief operating officer. "This is a huge undertaking, and I am thankful to Soto Cano (AB) and its service members who make it all possible."
In April 2024, the only public hospital on the island of Roatan burned to the ground, leaving the local community without this vital resource. According to Smith, medical supplies from this donation will be transported to Roatan to assist in the rebuilding efforts.
The original Nov. 7 delivery totaled 21 pallets and consisted of 12 pallets of food and nine pallets of medical supplies and equipment, along with other bare necessity items.
Over the last year, Soto Cano Air Base has received 41 shipments through the Denton Program valuing more than 1.8 million dollars. These shipments have been distributed to 22 nonprofits throughout Honduras, addressing medical, food insecurity and firefighting needs.
"The cooperation between the Department of Defense and Department of State through the Denton Program is a unique opportunity to provide aid to the Honduran people that would not be possible without Joint Task Force-Bravo," said U.S. Army Maj. Neal Glutting, JTF-Bravo Civil Military Operations director. "By facilitating the delivery and pick up of thousands of essential items, we can meet a critical need of our partner nation and its people."
Currently, Soto Cano AB is the only Department of Defense-operated airfield in the region that can support the C-5M Super Galaxy and ensure operations of this magnitude continue to the benefit of Honduras and its communities.
