The City of Sumter, Sumter County Government and the Shaw Sumter Community Council -- collectively known as Team Sumter -- are working together to help Tyndall Air Force Base families displaced by Hurricane Michael.
There are several Tyndall families already at Shaw Air Force Base with more on the way, said Capt. Alannah Staver of the 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Office.
Just east of Panama City, Florida, Tyndall AFB was struck hard by Hurricane Michael, and there are several families and single airmen who lost everything in the storm, Capt. Staver said.
“Sumter’s been a military community for 76 years, and we’re proud of that fact,” said Sumter Mayor Joe McElveen.
In the aftermath of natural disasters, Shaw Air Force Base and its airmen have pitched in to help out in Sumter, he said.
Sumter County Council Chairman James T. McCain Jr. pointed out the City and County embrace the motto of ‘Uncommon Patriotism.’
“Shaw Air Force Base – the airmen and soldiers located there, are part of the backbone of Sumter,” he said. “Now we’ve got these families coming from Tyndall Air Force Base because it was totally devastated and they’re relocating some of those families and single airmen to Shaw and we need to help them out.”
One hundred percent of the funds collected will go to the families of Tyndall Air Force Base, and these contributions are tax-deductible under a 501(c)(3) set up by the Shaw Sumter Community Council.
Check payable to: Support of Shaw, P.O. Box 1449, Sumter, S.C. 20151
Contact: Mark Partin, (803) 305-5058, mpartin@sumtersc.gov.