Joint Relief International is a non-profit organization created in 1993 to help needy people worldwide. Located at Pope Air Force Base, it acts as a coordinator between the military and non-governmental organizations like the Denton Program. It is a humanitarian transportation program that moves the cargo during relief missions, according to Heidi Meyer, director. In the previous year, Gen. Walter Kross, U.S. Transportation commander at Scott Air Force Base, requested that the 3rd Aerialport Squadron provide space for the organization. Most of the cargo is transported by airlift, which explains having their home base at Pope, Meyer said.
Citizens making donations can do so upon obtaining permission from the state department.
The donated goods are shipped by the Department of Defense free of charge by military aircraft on a space-available basis. The military is responsible for the actual movement of cargo. Among the items shipped include food, medical supplies, vehicles and clothing. On one particular mission, a shipment of military boots was sent to a village in Guatemala. This was due to the number of snakebites many of the villagers suffered because their feet were not covered.