Incirlik's got holiday mail

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Amber Ashcraft
  • 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  When service members are thousands of miles away from home, few things brighten their day more than receiving mail from loved ones back home.
With Christmas looming, the Incirlik Official Documents Center has received more than 480,000 pounds of mail since Nov. 15. It has also processed more than $82,000 worth of transactions from Incirlik personnel sending packages back to the U.S.

"It's a pleasure to help the Incirlik community send presents to loved ones back in the states or down range for Christmas," said Michelle Galvin, ODC finance clerk. "And with the help of the volunteers, we never fail to get the mail out in time, even with the increased holiday mail."

With all of the incoming and outgoing mail, the 14 ODC personnel have their hands and days full. Instead of normal 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. work days, the personnel work extended hours six days a week November through December, to serve the base populace with 36 additional customer service hours.

"To date, we have had at least 35 volunteers give up their Saturday mornings and other personal days to help alleviate some of the workload our personnel acquire through the holiday season," said Master Sgt. Hiram Banuchi, ODC postmaster.

Without volunteers, the ODC could not be as efficient in order to complete the mission, said Senior Airman Jose Delgado, 39th ODC. Volunteers help unload the postal trucks and filter the regular mail and packages to their respective boxes and shelves. They help provide more time for the military personnel to print up package slips and get everything through the window in a smoother process.

Nearly 1600 packages pass through the window at the ODC, and with more waiting to be processed through, it looks like Incirlik families are going to have a gifted holiday season thanks to the personnel at the ODC.

For more information on volunteering, stop in at the ODC or call 676-6301.