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Sheppard children receive back-to-school backpacks

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Adawn Kelsey
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Military families gathered Aug. 21 on the play ground for one last event before Sheppard AFB children began their next school year.

As part of the new school year celebration, the Sheppard AFB Chapel put together 100 back-to-school backpacks for the first 100 children who attended the event.

Items inside the backpacks included all the items found on the district school supply list.

Beth George, 82nd Training Wing Chapel Protestant Religious Education coordinator, said the items were purchased with tides and offerings collected at the church and set aside for this event.

"I went to various local stores as well as the base exchange to purchase the items," she said. "We also received donations from the Airman and Family Readiness Center as well."

Master Sgt. Charles Goodrich, 82nd Training Wing Chapel Operations superintendent, said the backpacks had all the items students in kindergarten through junior high would need to start the school year.

"The backpacks included: 1-inch binders, two packs of crayons, dividers, four spiral notebooks, six pocket folders, two packages of filler paper, four glue sticks, two packages of pencils, a bottle of glue, a package of markers, two pink erasers, scissors, a pencil box and a pencil zipper pouch," Sergeant Goodrich said.

Ms. George said this year the crowd more than tripled.

"We invited all families who had military access," Ms. George said. "This was a way to bring the Sheppard community together as well as create an outreach to show them what the chapel offers, such as the Sunday school classes starting next Sunday. It gave everyone time to relax, eat hotdogs and hamburgers and play."

She said the turnout this year is in thanks to all who helped as well as those who attended.

"We had help from the students of the Mini-Rock ministries who helped set up before the event and also clean and break down tables and chairs after the event," Ms. George said. "A huge 'thank you' goes out to all who helped plan and make this event happen and to all the families who attended the event."

Ms. George said she looks forward to next year's back-to-school event and has hopes it will be even bigger and better than this year.