Fearrington Village Resident Provides Aid to Afghan Refugees in Germany

By Jenny Walker

The American Red Cross (ARC) called on Monday afternoon, Aug. 23, and less than 24 hours later Fearrington Village resident Jackie Walters was on her way to Ramstein Air Base (AB) in Germany to support Operation Afghan Repatriation. Along with two other volunteers from Service to the Armed Forces (SAF), Jackie spent the next three weeks working at Ramstein AB, Rhein Ordnance Barracks (ROB), and in the Red Cross office, managing shifts of volunteers and providing operational support. Although humanitarian evacuation missions are officially disaster operations for the ARC, SAF staff assigned to military installations in Europe ran the Red Cross component of the mission, which is why Jackie and other experienced SAF leadership volunteers were called to deploy.

Jackie was introduced to the ARC by her mother, who worked with the organization her entire adult life, beginning with the Hospital Service in Europe in World War II. From childhood, Jackie remembers hearing her mother talking with military and disaster clients on the phone. “The Red Cross has always been a part of my life,” says Jackie.

Handing Out Supplies on the Flight Line American Red Cross Photo by Emily Osment. Used with permission

After an already long career with SAF, in August Jackie was called upon to go to Germany to help the Afghan refugees. She did not hesitate. She flew to Ramstein AB in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, where, after two long days of travel, she began work immediately, helping deliver meals to volunteers the night she arrived. She and the other ARC volunteers worked three stations on the runway at Ramstein (the flight line), giving the arriving refugees water, fruit juice, blankets, towels, comfort kits, fruit, snacks, and a huge variety of supplies for infants and toddlers. They staffed these stations 24 hours a day, never knowing when and how many refugees would be arriving. In one two-hour period alone, they served 442 refugees. Most of the displaced families arriving at Ramstein AB would be going to the United States to make their new homes.

Diaper chart created by Red Cross volunteers for helping interpreters choose the right size. Photo by Jackie Walters

After some time at Ramstein, Jackie went to the ROB, where the Afghans were given temporary housing, to continue her support of the military staff there caring for the evacuees. She and the other volunteers inventoried, organized, and prepped supplies, fulfilling requests from evacuees relayed by service members or interpreters working with military personnel. They also helped to develop efficiencies for distribution, like making up coloring kits for the children and creating a diaper chart to help servicemen determine the right sizes for the babies.

Jackie is quick to point out that the effort to help Afghan refugees was an international one. In addition to the ARC, help came from the US Agency for International Development; UNICEF; the German, Italian, and Spanish Red Cross societies; the Latter-Day Saints Charities; and the Red Crescent Movement (the Red Cross in Muslim countries), among others.

Offering a treat to a new arrival. American Red Cross. Photo by Emily Osment. Used with permission.

One of the things that impressed Jackie the most during her time working with the refugees was the resilience of the children, their receptiveness to friendly overtures, and their command of English. She was also impressed by the humanity shown by the military and everyone else (medics, chaplains, interpreters, and others) working with evacuees, always with patience and compassion. They played instruments with the children, took their photos (which the children delighted in seeing), played ball with them, and even taught them songs. Jackie points out that children are children, regardless of cultural differences, and the Afghan children, even during this huge upheaval in their lives, were receptive, curious, and self-reliant. They loved music, games, drawing, and attention. Jackie and other volunteers displayed the pictures drawn by the children, who were proud of their creations and loved seeing them exhibited.

Children’s Art Gallery Outside Red Cross Area on Rhein Ordnance Barracks. Photo by Jackie Walters

Jackie’s career with the Red Cross really took off in 1985 in Bremerton, Washington, where she worked first as a caseworker and then managing the hospital volunteer program before becoming the station manager’s volunteer partner. Her husband, Jim, was a career Naval officer, stationed there at that time. Jackie worked her way up the ARC ladder, doing a lot of leadership and management work during Jim’s three-year assignment in Germany. In 1998 she accepted a three-year national appointment as the volunteer partner with the senior director of operations for SAF. She traveled all over Asia and Europe to oversee operations, meeting many people in the field and at the national level. At one point, she was asked to revise the ARC policy manual for a worldwide system of service delivery in need of revision and revitalization. She spent several years at Red Cross National Headquarters in Washington, DC, working as a consultant to people in the field, doing much training, and representing the ARC in a variety of national headquarters projects.

Jackie and Jim retired to Fearrington Village in 2017. But Jackie has never retired from the ARC, as evidenced by her recent three-week deployment to Germany, where she provided humanitarian aid and comfort to thousands of people forced to leave their war-torn country to seek safety and freedom in a place they knew little about and had never been to. Jackie said her feelings about those three weeks “have been transformative in ways that will take some time to process.”

Jackie’s time with the refugees from Afghanistan reinforced her belief that “making generalizations about groups of people—whether about their gender, race, religion, socioeconomic background, education, politics, or where they grew up—is hurtful, unfair, and unnecessary.” She reiterated that “this mission was about bringing people together in a massive effort to alleviate suffering, extend hospitality, and promote healing.” The volunteers and military personnel at Ramstein and the ROB supported not only the refugees but also each other, keeping a sense of humor, striving to withhold judgment, and “remembering that we represented our country and that the best of America is its humanity and compassion in welcoming ‘the tired, the poor, the huddled masses yearning to breathe free’ at our door.”

The ARC is still supporting military families and veterans struggling with the aftermath of the war in Afghanistan. The Afghan Red Crescent and the International Committee of the Red Cross continue to provide clean water, medical care, and desperately needed food to the people of Afghanistan. And even as the last evacuation flight out of Afghanistan took place on Aug. 31, the ARC continues to see a need for help and steps up to meet that need through dedicated volunteers like Jackie Walters.

Jenny Walker is a relatively new member of the Fearrington community, having moved here from Chapel Hill a year ago. She was a medical writer with the Duke Clinical Research Institute for 18 years before retiring in 2019.

Ten Fun & Interesting Facts About Pickleball

By Jan Doolin, Director of Public Relations, Fearrington Tennis Association

Michael Morehead, Alan Willard, Mike Eberling, & Janet Doolin on the pickleball court. Photo by Art Gonzales

1. The game was invented in 1965 by Congressman Joel Prichard & his friends.

The game has its roots in Bainbridge Island, Washington, where it was conceived by three fathers in the summer of 1965 with the aim of entertaining their families and having fun together. And now, we offer pickleball play in Fearrington Village!

2. It’s a sport for players of all ages & skills.

Unlike many sports that people just can’t play before or after a certain age, pickleball is truly a sport for people of all ages. You can find kids as young as 5 years old, or adults as old as 100. The sport has become well known all over the world and has led to the creation of the International Federation of Pickleball.

3. The first official pickleball court was built in 1967.

Since then, the love for this game has contributed to thousands of pickleball courts across the US and other parts of the world. In fact, the numbers are growing! It can be played indoors as well as outdoors. We just started playing pickleball on the Fearrington tennis courts on a trial basis (July-Dec. 2021).

4. Pickleball is a very affordable sport to play.

You can find all the equipment you need for less than $35, which includes a wiffleball and a set of paddles. Of course, high-end equipment will run much more—up to $100. As for the playing area, literally, any space with a hard surface can be converted into a pickleball court as long as there’s an area of 7 feet on both sides of the net and 15 feet across. To play pickleball at Fearrington, the cost is $40 per member for the balance of 2021.

5. Pickleball paddles have evolved over the years.

Originally, the pickleball paddles were made of wood. As the game has grown, the paddle has become lighter, with materials such as aluminum or graphite used instead. The paddle takes the shape of the ping pong paddle but is a bit bigger, though not as big as the tennis racket. We have spare paddles and balls to use at the tennis courts.

6. Pickleball is among the fastest-growing sports in North America.

In the last decade, this sport has grown tremendously in popularity. A couple of years ago, pickleball was recognized as the fastest-growing sport in the US. In the past six years alone, the game has seen an increase of more than 600% in the number of participants. While Florida may be dubbed the Pickleball Capital of the World, we now have 60 pickleball members signed up to play in Fearrington.

7. A pickleball ball travels about one-third the speed of a tennis ball, so you likely won’t get injured should it hit you.

It’s a great hand/eye coordination sport and is mentally engaging. Unlike tennis balls, pickleball balls are made of plastic and have holes in them, which decreases speed. It’s not as taxing as tennis because the court is smaller, so there is less need to run and therefore easier on your joints. Points are quick, and the game is very easy to learn and master. We have free pickleball instruction on Sundays at 10:00 am, and we also have “Pickleball Lite” for those who do not want to play so competitively.

8. There is no official dress code.

Typically, regular athletic apparel is the norm. Shorts and tee shirts are commonly worn. Many players wear comfortable causal clothes and tennis shoes.

9. It’s a very social sport.

Since pickleball is commonly played as doubles, you get to socialize with other players. A pickleball court is one-fourth the size of a tennis court, so players interact more. Up to 16 players can play on 4 courts, the size of 2 tennis courts. Currently, we have the equipment to set up 4 courts at Fearrington with groups playing pickleball on selected days: Advanced, Beginners, Ladies, Men, All-Play, and Pickleball Lite.

10. Pickleball’s popularity continues to grow!

Since 1967, when the first permanent court was constructed, the game has improved a lot and caught the attention of the American public. Have you ever played the game before? If you haven’t, then you should try it soon at the Fearrington Courts, at the end of Benchmark.

These days, you can find many free online resources such as YouTube, with tips and instructions for both newcomers and seasoned players. It’s a game that is on the rise. You’ll be glad to get in on the action! If you like playing tennis, you’ll love playing pickleball. Due to injuries, many members no longer can play tennis, but they can excel at pickleball.

Take Action Now!

Visit the FHA website, open the Groups menu, then choose Fearrington Tennis Association.

For more information, contact Jan Doolin, jan@janetdoolin.com or Art Gonzales, artgon@verizon.net.

Upcoming Food Trucks in Fearrington

If you’ve become a fan of the diverse and delicious dinner options offered by our visiting food trucks, you’ll be pleased to know that these events are being planned well into next year. The full schedule and food truck menus will always be posted on our community hotspot page at www.streetfoodfinder.com/fearringtonvillage, where you can sign up for weekly email and even leave feedback for the truck.

While walk-up orders are always welcome, our vendors offer online ordering for your convenience, and most begin accepting pre-orders a day in advance through our hotspot page. There is one notable exception, and that’s Cousins Maine Lobster—one of our most popular visitors—which requires the use of their special app (available through the Apple Store and Google Play) and typically accepts pre-orders after 3 pm on the day of.

For November, plan for the following dates & trucks before your holidays get underway:

• Nov. 3: Gussy’s Greek Truck
• Nov. 11: Cousins Main Lobster
• Nov. 17: Chirba Dumpling

Thanks to all who have made this venture a success in our community. Enjoy the trucks and dining delights to come!

The Fearrington Puzzler

Fossil trees in Fearrington Village

Question and Photo submitted by Carol Kurtz

Question: Where are fossil trees located in Fearrington Village and what is their common name?

Find the answer in the December 2021 issue of The Belted Gazette.

October Puzzler: In what Chatham County town can you find this old mansion?

Answer: This is the Haughton-McIver House in Gulf, NC. The house was built by Lawrence J. Haughton, a planter and one of the incorporators of the Gulf and Graham Plank Road. It was sold in 1871 to J.M. McIver, prosperous businessman and miller.!

The question and answer were submitted by the Chatham Historical Association, as was the photo.