Follow up: 315th AW, Denton Program delivers to Haiti Published May 28, 2015 By Senior Airman Tom Brading 315th Airlift Wing Public Affairs Joint Base Charleston, S.C. -- (Editor’s Note: The following article is a follow-up to an original story, 315 AW Denton Progam delivers to Haiti posted May 8, 2015) The 315th Airlift Wing has a storied history with humanitarian airlift. However, the results of those missions aren’t always shown. One of those missions, Operation Hard Shell, was conducted April 23 – 26, 2015, from Joint Base Charleston, S.C. to Key West Naval Air Station, Fla., to support the movement of Denton cargo to Haiti. The Denton Program is jointly administered to provide transportation for approved humanitarian assistance commodities destined for approved countries. “Thank you for your service to our country and the sacrifices you make on a daily basis for our safety,” said Donna Webb, Children’s Lifeline operations manager. “Thank you as well for the part that you take in the humanitarian effort through the Denton Program. Through this program, our organization, Children's Lifeline helps provide food for more than 8,500 per day.” Pilots from the 315th AW flew 20 sorties during the four-day deployment and airlifted more than 345,000 pounds of humanitarian cargo (which included 61 pallets of food and clothing – as well as a school bus) to the people of Haiti. Five days a week, staff members at LaDigue Mattheux, Archahaie, Haiti prepare 2,700 hot meals that go out to 15 schools and orphanages. According to Webb, many times this will be the only meal the children will have each day. However, a drastic change in the children has been noticed by staff members. Malnutrition has begun going away, and the food flown in by the 701st Airlift Squadron is the result of the positive shift. In addition to food, the children have been able to benefit from other supplies including shoes, hygiene products, school supplies, and mattresses among others. “The mattresses have ensured children aren’t sleeping on dirt floors, or when it rains, mud floors,” said Webb. “We delivered food and equipment to people who needed it, and we are all making a difference as part of this effort, and every day we have crews on the road,” said Col. Caroline Evernham, 315th Operations Group commander.