Kansas City Local 530 worked together with American Airlines to support the Operation Iraqi Children organization which supplies school supply kits and other necessities to Iraqi children and care packages to American soldiers in Iraq. American Airlines donated a 767 aircraft, which is maintained by Local 530 members, to OIC, helping the organization to transport the largest onetime shipment of supplies 10,000 school kits. Crocs’ SolesUnited program donated more than 6,000 pairs of Crocs shoes for children and soldiers and the Peter Burk’s Unsung Hero Fund also donated snacks, supplies, books and video games for soldiers and soccer balls for Iraqi children.

The Kansas City MCIE Overhaul base hosted a send off celebration where the hangar space was converted into a stage decorated with balloons and banners. Several speakers addressed the mission, including TWU Local 530 President Gordon Clark.

“As the group embarks on this long journey that will undoubtedly put smiles on the faces of thousands of children you must know the Transport Workers and American Airlines have worked very hard together to make your flight the safest in the world,” said Clark. “For those of you flying with us today the Boeing 767 aircraft you will be flying on is completely 100 percent maintained by the members of the Transport Workers Union.”

The charter continued on from Kansas City through New York and Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany and finally to Kuwait where the cargo, volunteers and entertainers were airlifted to Iraq.