Operation Airdrop Hosts First Annual Volunteer Pilot Exercise Supporting Food Banks in Denton and Gainesville
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Operation Airdrop Hosts First Annual Volunteer Pilot Exercise Supporting Food Banks in Denton and Gainesville
Volunteer general aviation pilots will fly donated nonperishable food to Gainesville Municipal Airport while helping test new disaster-relief coordination technology ahead of hurricane season
GAINESVILLE, Texas — May 20, 2026 — Operation Airdrop will host its inaugural volunteer pilot exercise on May 30, 2026, at Gainesville Municipal Airport, bringing together general aviation pilots to deliver donated nonperishable food to local food banks and strengthen the organization’s readiness for future disaster-relief missions.
The exercise is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will support the Denton Community Food Center and Volunteers In Service To Others (VISTO) in Gainesville.
Designed as a warm-up for the 2026 hurricane season, the exercise will allow Operation Airdrop, volunteer pilots, and logistics teams to practice the coordination required in real-world disaster response operations. Pilots will fly donated food to Gainesville Municipal Airport, where supplies will be received, sorted, and prepared for distribution through local nonprofit food banks.
Requested nonperishable donations include cornbread mix, canned chicken, canned pasta sauce (no glass containers), canned baked beans, pork and beans, ranch-style beans, Cheerios, hearty canned beef soups, and canned chili.
In addition to supporting local food banks, the exercise will provide Operation Airdrop and its volunteer pilots with an opportunity to test a new pilot coordination app designed to improve the organization’s ability to manage aircraft, pilots, routes, supplies, and logistics in future disaster-relief missions.
“Operation Airdrop exists to deliver critical supplies quickly when communities need help most,” said Russ Keith, executive director of Operation Airdrop. “This exercise offers our volunteer pilots a meaningful opportunity to serve North Texas food banks and to help us sharpen the systems we rely on during disaster response. It’s training with a purpose — strengthening readiness while delivering hope to our community.”
Operation Airdrop mobilizes volunteer pilots, aircraft, and logistics teams to deliver critical supplies to communities affected by natural disasters, especially when roads are blocked, infrastructure is damaged, or traditional supply routes are compromised. Exercises like this help ensure that volunteer pilots and coordination teams are ready to respond quickly and effectively when disaster strikes.
Media outlets are invited to cover the exercise at Gainesville Municipal Airport. Visual opportunities include aircraft arrivals, food donation offloads, interviews with volunteer pilots, supply staging, and coordination activities.
Event Details
Who: Volunteer general aviation pilots working with Operation Airdrop
What: First annual Operation Airdrop volunteer pilot exercise, delivering donated nonperishable food to the Denton Community Food Center and VISTO in Gainesville
When: May 30, 2026, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Gainesville Municipal Airport, Gainesville, Texas
Why: To support local food banks, prepare for the upcoming hurricane season, and test Operation Airdrop’s new pilot coordination app for future disaster-relief missions
Media Contact:
Chuck Larkin
Director of Communications
Operation Airdrop
chuck@operationairdrop.org
469-777-5360, Ext. 302
About Operation Airdrop
Operation Airdrop is a nonprofit disaster-relief organization that mobilizes volunteer pilots, aircraft, and logistics teams to deliver critical supplies to communities affected by natural disasters. When roads are blocked and systems fail, Operation Airdrop takes to the skies to deliver food, water, medical supplies, and other essential resources to communities in need.
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