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Kadena 5/6 Club gives food to the less fortunate

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Darnell T. Cannady
  • 18 Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  Getting involved with the local community is one of the main missions for Kadena 5/6 Club and one they have been actively looking to arrange. On a hot Saturday afternoon, the 5/6 Club and local volunteers organized an event to donate and serve food to the less fortunate at Yogi Park in Naha Aug. 18.

"This is one of those things since I've joined the executive council that we have been trying to do," said Tech. Sgt. Benjamin Puryear, Kadena 5/6 Club executive officer who participated in the event. "Just get out and be active in our local community."

This event started with setting up booths to place the food donated. Local volunteers bought two big pots of curry, big containers of rice, bowls, spoons and drinks; while the 5/6 Club volunteers donated sandwich platters from the Banyan Tree Club along with a few cases of water.

"Before we ate, we sung together and danced," explained Ren Nada, a promise keeper volunteer who has been organizing these types of events for 10 years. "We wanted to make sure everyone ate, enjoyed the music and dance, and most importantly that everyone felt like family." 

In about an hour, the volunteers managed to serve about 200 people.

Not only were the less fortunate grateful for the service of the 5/6 Club, but the local volunteers greatly appreciated it as well.

"Working together in this type of event has been a good experience for us all," said Nada. "We were able to give back to a lot of people and help them."

Even though this is the 5/6 Club's first time giving food to the homeless they hope that this is something they can continue on a monthly basis.

"I want to get more people involved because this is a great opportunity for anyone who is looking to get out in the local community and make a change in the local community," said Puryear. "If you want the most fulfilling experience, this is something that you definitely want to come out and do."

The 5/6 Club is an organization made up of members with the ranks of E-5 and E-6. People interested in joining the 5/6 Club can attend its meetings every third Thursday of the month at noon in the Rocker NCO Club.