10/04/2024
From Randy Sharkey, Goshen Airport Manager and President of Friendship Flights Foundation:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friendship Flights Foundation, a non-for-profit corporation, based at the Goshen Municipal Airport has been arranging numerous flights to small, general aviation airports in North Carolina. Todd Eby, a local pilot and owner of Eby Ford, began a drive to help victims of Hurricane Helene this past week. Through social media posts, their efforts have resulted in hundreds of pounds of donated items. Drop off points have been the Eby Ford dealership on US 33, Goshen or the main terminal building of the Goshen Municipal Airport at 17229 CR 42, Goshen.
Once the items reach the airport, each box is weighed and loaded onto airplanes that have been donated by local owners. According to Randy Sharkey, Airport Manager and President of Friendship Flights, “time is of the essence." Many of the roads are impassable so helicopters loaded with donated items are flying to remote areas in NC.
Friendship Flights arranges the private air transportation with donated aircraft from the Goshen Airport and supplies the aviation fuel for these missions. According to Sharkey, they have already transported about 3000 pounds of goods with another 4000 pounds loaded and ready to depart on Saturday. Friendship Flights is currently accepting financial donations to help offset the costs of jet fuel for the donated aircraft. Each round-trip costs about $1,500.00.
Financial donations can be made through the website at friendshipflights.org or checks can be sent to:
Friendship Flights
17229 CR 42
Goshen, IN 46526
Friendship Flights Foundation is a 501c3 Indiana corporation and 100% of all donations are used for fueling costs.
