By Airman 1st Class Julian Batista, 374th Airlift Wing

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan — What began as an effort to help one Airman whose family suffered devastating losses from Super Typhoon Sinlaku grew into a community-wide donation drive that delivered critical supplies to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, supporting the collective humanitarian mission.

The initiative was sparked after U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Anthony Chiakis, 374th Operations Support Squadron air traffic control apprentice, learned that his family’s home had suffered severe flooding and significant damage during the typhoon. In response, members of Team Yokota rallied to provide assistance to Chiakis and his family.

“When I first heard about the typhoon, I was deeply concerned about my family’s safety and hoped they were okay,” Chiakis said. “I was constantly trying to contact them, but couldn’t get a hold of them.”

Spearheading the effort was Tech. Sgt. Eyleen Colon Colon, 374 OSS air traffic control watch supervisor, who coordinated a collection campaign that quickly expanded beyond its original scope.

“As people learned what had happened, they wanted to help,” Colon Colon said. “What started as a small collection of donated items continued to grow as more members of the Yokota community contributed.”

While the donations accumulated, getting them to the affected area proved challenging. The typhoon’s lingering effects had disrupted normal air and sea transportation routes, leaving limited options for delivering supplies to the islands. It was due to Colon Colon’s role in the current operations flight that she had an opportunity to plan for an upcoming humanitarian assistance and disaster relief mission supporting affected communities in the region.

Colon Colon immediately sprang into action by coordinating with aircrew members and a fellow loadmaster to determine whether the donations could be transported on a space-available basis aboard a C-130J Super Hercules supporting relief efforts. While donations poured in, ensuring the items were authorized for transport was just as important as collecting them.

“The items consisted of food and baby supplies,” Chiakis said. “Since there was a shortage of these products, they were a really big help. Also, there were medical supplies which were important in tending to any injuries.”

After verifying transportation requirements and ensuring donated items met safety standards, the collection ultimately grew from a small box of supplies into two large transport cases filled with donated goods from members of the Yokota community. The donations were subsequently transported to the affected regions by a C-130J Super Hercules tasked to the disaster relief mission in the region, helping connect assistance from Yokota directly to those affected by the storm.

For Colon Colon, the effort carried personal significance. A native of Puerto Rico, she experienced the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in 2017 and witnessed firsthand the challenges families face while recovering from a major natural disaster. Having experienced a hurricane firsthand, she understood the challenges that follow a major natural disaster.

After learning about the Airman’s family and the damage they faced, she felt compelled to help. Drawing from her own family’s recovery experience, she wanted to ensure they had support during a difficult time. The initiative highlighted both the reach of Yokota’s humanitarian response capabilities and the willingness of Airmen to support one another beyond the mission.

“What stood out most was how many people wanted to contribute,” Colon Colon said. “The donations represented more than supplies. They showed that even across thousands of miles, people care and are willing to help when others are in need.”

As recovery efforts continue in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the donated supplies serve as a reminder of the Air Force’s commitment to service, resilience and taking care of its people wherever they may be.

“It felt great knowing there are people out there willing to go out their way to help me and my family out during this tough situation,” Chiakis said. “It inspired me to want to do the same for others out there and give back as well.”