ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Hundreds of helpful donations from Albuquerque are now headed to the other side of the Pacific Ocean just in time for Christmas. For the first time ever, local service members have joined a national movement to help some of the smallest island nations in the world. “We are taking our part into the bigger mission, and I think that's very important to be able to make a difference no matter how big or how small. It will still make an impact,” said Senior Airman and Organizer of Operation Christmas Drop at Kirtland Air Force Base Kiersten Fausto. Story continues below News: Albuquerque police officer indicted on charges related to soliciting sexual favors Education: Despite hot classroom complaints, Albuquerque parents want school calendar to stay the same News: Driver arrested for DWI after chase with New Mexico State Police Events: What’s happening around New Mexico November 22-28 It's a new chapter for Kirtland Air Force Base taking part in one of the military's biggest humanitarian missions. That mission is Operation Christmas Drop which the Department of Defense started in the 1950s. In the next few weeks, dozens of pallets full of donations will drop from C-130 aircraft for people living in remote islands surrounding Guam. “It’s very important because those islands they're not able to get their resources like we do here in the states,” said Fausto. A Guam native, Fausto organized this year’s drive, the first time it’s ever been done at Kirtland. He spent the last few weeks gathering boxes of food, hygiene products, and school supplies. Fausto just finished packing donations this week and will fly them out on a commercial plane to Andersen Air Force Base on Guam this weekend. The Guam base will serve as the hub for multiple air drops to tiny islands spanning across an area of the pacific that's nearly as big as the continental U.S. “I wanted to be able to share with all the service members that Guam does things like this yearly, and we can be part of this regardless where we are.” Fausto hopes the donation tradition will be kept alive on Kirtland Air Force Base for years to come.