ESC donates supplies to base schools

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Julius Delos Reyes
  • 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  It's an early holiday for Edwards schools as the base Enlisted Spouses Club sorted donated school supplies on Monday to distribute to all of the Edwards schools.

The program is called the "Back to School Supply Drive," which aims to provide various supplies such as scientific calculators, protractors, compasses, rulers, pens, and pencils to Desert High School, Edwards Middle School, Branch Elementary School and Bailey Elementary School.

"The Enlisted Spouses Club wanted to provide support to all schools on base," said Jeanette Lewis, ESC member.

The high school and middle school receive zero funding from the Muroc Joint Unified School District for back to school supplies, Mrs. Lewis said. The Elementary Schools receive a small donation per child for supplies. Often, these supplies do not carry them through school year.

"We wanted to be able to supply the classrooms with supplies that are needed throughout the school year," Mrs. Lewis said.

The back-to-school drive was a great way to help the school, said Heather Urban, ESC president.

"We wanted to help the schools because they are always in need," Mrs. Urban said.

When the kids come to the class, they don't have to worry if they forgot their supplies because they can use the classroom's supplies, Mrs. Lewis said.

In addition, the ESC also provided school supplies and back packs to families who could benefit from these donations.

"We have 32 backpacks," Mrs. Lewis said. "We are going to fill each backpack with supplies. The first sergeants will pick them up and distribute them to Airmen who need them."

The Back to School Drive received support from many organizations, including the Officers Spouses Club, the Base Exchange, the Edwards community and large retail corporations.

"We also set up a booth at the BX area where volunteers from ESC and OSC distributed flyers about the drive," Mrs. Lewis said. "We also had a drop-off box for donations."

She said the ESC received a lot of donations for the drive.

"We had an outstanding response to this drive, and it wouldn't have happened without the support of the community," Mrs. Lewis said. "The ESC would like to thank everyone for their great support. Edwards community really came together to support our schools."