Operation School Days

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Joanna M. Kresge
  • 2d Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  The Airmen and Family Readiness Center, friends of family support and Army and Air Force Exchange Service have teamed up in support of Operation School Days 2009 to accept school supply donations for military families' school-aged children. 

The items received from the drive will benefit the children of military families to help with the expense of the back-to-school season. 

"The donations are so important because making sure our children are prepared is so important," said Almeda Giles, A&FRC palace acquire intern. "Many families, when it comes time to go back-to-school, occurre a great expense, especially for our Air Force community, and we want to provide assistance to those families." 

While AAFES and the A&FRC are the organizations planning the event, the friends of family support play a large role. 

"Friends of family support is the entity behind the A&FRC's participation in the program," said Ms. Giles. "It's an organization that basically is set up to help the community of the Air Force. They fund a lot of the programs that Airmen use when they come into the A&FRC." 

Donated supplies can range from a pencil top eraser to binders and backpacks, depending on what Airmen are able to spend. To help with the cost AAFES will give a 10 percent discount for all school supplies purchased at the base exchange. 

"We're giving this discount because we are a part of the Barksdale community; some of our incentives allow us the flexibility to participate in programs like this that can really help our community," said Phil Capshaw, Barksdale Base Exchange store manager. 

Purchased supplies can be dropped off at one of the many designated drop-off locations around base, including; the Fox Run Golf Course, the base library, the fitness center, child development center, AAFES Base Exchange, the Barksdale Commissary, Military Clothing Sales Store, the AAFES Shoppette and Capehart Shoppette. 

"We try to give people an opportunity to participate without needing to go to just one location," said Ms. Giles. "I looked for places that people may frequent, they may not have the opportunity to go to the base exchange during the duty day. This way, we are more visible and they have more opportunities to find us." 

Donations will be accepted from now until July 22 at participating locations. Following the end of the program, the A&FRC will be holding a school uniform fashion show where they will be giving the supplies to Barksdale children. For more information contact the A&FRC at 456-8400.