Alaska Airlines have teamed up with nonprofit disaster relief organization Airlink, to deliver nearly 9000lbs of mixed medical supplies and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to COVID-19 hit communities in Palmer, Alaska.
Nearby Anchorage, Alaska, is a major entry point for PPE cargo coming from China into the US, but much of that cargo moves on to the continental US. The rural and suburban areas of Alaska have struggled to obtain medical supplies to treat both the normal flow of patients and new COVID-19 cases. The medical supplies and PPE will be distributed to local hospitals by the Alaska Conference of Adventist Community Services (ACS). ACS is the US arm of the Adventist Development Relief Agency (ADRA), both entities are partners of Airlink.
Airlink and Alaska Airlines have previously partnered in response to hurricanes Dorian, Lane and Florence, as well as other COVID-19 related aid programs. In April 2020, Alaska Airlines granted Airlink 250,000 miles to transport responders to communities impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and other crises. The miles were donated by the airline’s Mileage Plan™ members through the Alaska Airlines Disaster Relief Pool, which is used to support charities like Airlink involved with disaster relief efforts and for transportation of medical staff and volunteers.
“In times of crisis, Alaska Airlines has always answered our calls for assistance. True to form, they have responded positively during our COVID-19 response to ensure we have the resources needed to respond to the pandemic and natural disasters occurring at the same time,” said Steven J. Smith, Airlink president and CEO.
Airlink’s COVID-19 response, under the AviationC.A.R.E.S. (Co-ordinated Air Response for Emergency Supplies) appeal, has included transporting medical teams and more than 100 tons of emergency cargo supporting frontline medical personnel and vulnerable beneficiaries in communities hard-hit by the pandemic in the United States, China and Uganda.
Through Airlink more than 130 aid organizations can quickly and efficiently provide medical aid, food, access to clean water, shelter, and other assistance to some of the world’s most vulnerable beneficiaries. To learn more, visit www.airlinkflight.org.
