Incirlik lends helping hand

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Sara Csurilla
  • 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  Incirlik's Legal Office and the 817th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron have partnered together to start collecting used and children items to pass on to Incirlik village youngsters.

Incirlik village youngsters are adolescencent members in the communities surrounding the base.

They have placed donation bins labeled "Ivy Boxes" at the fitness center, Official Document Center and the Child Development Center for members of Team Incirlik to drop off their donations.

"Incirlik has more than its share of generous members," said Lt. Col. Allison Weber, Ivy Donation Program coordinator with the base legal office. "This is a great way for them to share their generosity with the community without worrying about black market issues."
Black marketing laws can get confusing for some, but it's a well known fact that giving certain things to Turkish Nationals working on base to pass on to their families violates black marketing laws here.

"You're guilty of black marketing anytime you give, sell or transfer any item to a Turkish national that was not purchased on the Turkish economy," Colonel Weber said. "Doing this makes you subject to disciplinary action by the military or prosecution in the local courts."

Members of the Ivy Donation Program will collect from the boxes around base and plan on presenting the donations to the Incirlik Village mayor on Valentine's Day.

"As you sort through your post-holiday gifts and prepare for spring cleaning, consider passing your unwanted or outgrown children's items to our less fortunate neighbors," the Colonel encourages. "It's a great way to reach out to those that need our help."

For more information about the program please contact Colonel Weber at 676-6800 or Chief Master Sgt. George Lytle, 817th EAS superintendent at 676-7818.