Angels in our midst doing good deeds
By JOAN CROTHERS

Schobel did a shared Angel Flight with this family, taking them to Danville, where another Angel Flight took them on to Wilmington Delaware. The child in front had a spinal problem connected to dwarfism. Three people in addition to the pilot can fit in Charlie Schobel's plane.

We have angels in Towns and Union counties who fly by planes, not the usual angel wings, and they want to spread the word as to what they do. Angel Flight pilot Charlie Schobel said they have had no calls so far from anyone in either county.

These "Angel Flight" pilots volunteer to fly so no one is denied potentially life-saving treatment simply because they cannot afford the travel costs or who are otherwise unable to travel via public means. Free transportation is provided for any legitimate, medically related need or other compassionate purpose. These flights are not to be confused with helicopter flights that transport medical emergency cases.

Angel Flight of Georgia, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is supported entirely by private and corporate donations and covers the southeastern states of Georgia, Alabama,

Mississippi, Tennessee as well as North and South Carolina. There are 800 pilots donating their time and planes, and helping them from the ground are 400 Earth Angels. Only four people in the group have paid jobs.

Angel Flight of Georgia acted as first responders in the wake of hurricanes Katrina and Rita, flying over 450 relief missions. With the help of Earth Angels, supplies, medical equipment and volunteer personnel were flown into the hardest hit areas in the first 30 days following the devastation.

To reach Angel Flight e-mail www.angelflight.ga.org, call 770-452-7958, or write to 2000 Airport Road, Suite 227, Atlanta GA 30341.