Edwards AFB News

Enlisted Spouses Club heads 'Backpack Drive'

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Julius Delos Reyes
  • 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  As school season draws near, the Edwards Enlisted Spouses Club partnered with the First Sergeants' Council to collect school supplies for the students. 

The annual "Backpack Drive" aims to help families in Edwards community by providing backpacks and school supplies to needy children. 

"We collect backpacks, fill them with supplies and leave it up to the first sergeants to give to the families," said Amanda Buffell, ESC vice president. "We wanted to raise more than 50 backpacks for this year. Basically, it is just our way of supporting the community." 

Drop boxes and supply lists are located at the Base Exchange Food Court, South Base Food Court, Air Force Research Laboratory site and NASA Dryden Flight Research Center. The drive is ongoing through Aug. 4. In addition, ESC volunteers are also on hand at the BX to inform Team Edwards about other items children need. Aside from the basic school supplies, the ESC is also accepting monetary donations for the cause. 

"One of the ESC's mission statements is to be positively engaged in helping out the needs of Edwards community," said Alessandra Soltis, ESC member. "I think that's mainly the reason we're doing it. It has been identified as something that our children could actually use. We're gung-ho to do it." 

Mrs. Buffell said the current economy also prompted the ESC to do this drive. 

"Who is this situation going to significantly affect but our Airmen and their families?" she said. "I remember being an (airman first class') wife, having one child and relying on my husband's paycheck." 

According to Mrs. Buffell, the drive wouldn't have happened without the support of the volunteers. 

"It is a selfless act," she said. "All of us are here to support the mission as well as the families. We all have to be here to do our part." 

For more information, call Amanda Buffell at 275-0396 or 903-0908. 

(The Edwards Enlisted Spouses Club is also looking for more members to help in various causes, such as "Backpack Drive" and Angel Tree)