By Marianna Moles, American Red Cross

How many pounds of food and baby supplies can one C-130 Hercules Cargo Transport hold?

According to Air Force Pilot Andy Shields, about a million. At least that’s what he and Air Force Pilot Jeff Leischner joked after landing the giant military aircraft in Beaumont, Texas, with a distinctly non-military payload.

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A Red Cross ERV (emergency response vehicle) prepares to make its way to the Beaumont bulk distribution center after picking up 7,000 pounds of hygiene materials, baby food, and pet supplies that were delivered by the New Mexico International Guard all donated by families of the Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque. (Red Cross photo by Marianna Moles)

This delivery actually amounted to 7,000 pounds. But to the American Red Cross, it felt like a one-in-a-million delivery, considering the baby supplies, toiletries, shelf-stable food, dog food and water were donated by Air Force families living at Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, N.M., and delivered to Jack Brooks Regional Airport on the pilots’ day off.New Mexico International Guardsmen Aaron Fillip, Andy Shields, Chris Elder Jeff Leischner and Stephen Rohrbough, along with Alaskan International Guard Daniel Kelley, made the flight to and from Beaumont on a

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Members of the New Mexico International Guard hailing from Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, Jeff Leishcner (left) and Andy Shields (right), share a laugh in the cock pit of their C-5 Galaxy Cargo Transport after delivering 7,000 pounds of hygiene materials, baby food, and pet supplies to Beaumont, Texas in response to Hurricane Harvey relief efforts. (Red Cross photo by Marianna Moles)

New Mexico International Guardsmen Aaron Fillip, Andy Shields, Chris Elder Jeff Leischner and Stephen Rohrbough, along with Alaskan International Guard Daniel Kelley, made the flight to and from Beaumont on a whim and were more than happy to do so. They even welcomed aboard Red Cross disaster responders Frank Hall, Marianna Moles and Rich Woodruff, giving them each a moment to sit in the copilot’s seat.Red Crossers were on the tarmac to greet the plane as it rolled in.  “I’m thrilled to be a part of this,” said Hall, who drove the distinctive red and white Red Cross truck right onto the

Red Crossers were on the tarmac to greet the plane as it rolled in.  “I’m thrilled to be a part of this,” said Hall, who drove the distinctive red and white Red Cross truck right onto the airport up to the huge aircraft. Next stop would be the Red Cross disaster supplies distribution center in Beaumont.

After an exchange of thumbs up, it was wheels up as the C-130 roared into the air and back toward New Mexico, having made a generous delivery that will bring relief to hundreds of survivors of Hurricane Harvey.

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Members of the New Mexico International Guard Aaron Fillip, Andy Shields, Chris Elder Jeff Leischner and Stephen Rohrbough, with Alaskan International Guard Daniel Kelley, all from Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, share a moment with Red Cross public affairs volunteers Marianna Moles and Rich Woodruff, to commemorate the delivery of 7,000 pounds of hygiene items, food, baby food and pet supplies to Beaumont, Texas – all donated by the families of Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico. (Red Cross photo by Marianna Moles)
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Red Cross ERV (emergency response vehicle) driver Frank Hall, walks towards the C-5 Galaxy Cargo Transport after delivery of 7,000 pounds of hygiene materials, baby food, and pet supplies at Jack Brooks Regional Airport in Beaumont, Texas in response to Hurricane Harvey relief efforts. The supplies were donated by families at Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and delivered on the pilots’ day off. (Red Cross photo by Marianna Moles)