Operation delivers school supplies

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Patrick Harrower
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Volunteers handed out school supplies to more than 200 Travis families yesterday at the First Street Chapel. The supplies were donated through a drive held by U.S. Bank and the event was coordinated by Operation Homefront.

Each year, Operation Homefront partners with multiple school districts to provide school supplies for eligible families.

"All the volunteers to hand out supplies came from U.S. Bank locations all around the Bay Area," said Silvia Crowder, 60th Force Support Squadron school liaison. "After the bank ran the drive to collect all the items, we partnered with the chapel to host the venue."

This was the first year the event was hosted at Travis, but Operation Homefront had 14 other events at or around military stations all over California.

"It took months of planning," said Jack Chirrick, Operation Homefront, executive director of California. "We had to start from square one but Travis was more than accommodating."

To be eligible to receive the supplies, families had to have base access and be in the ranks of E-1 through E-6.

"Even though there are rank requirements, other families were able to get supplies as well," Crowder said. "Families with wounded warriors or a service member who died while on active duty were also able to register. This was the first year we did this at Travis and we had so many families sign up, we actually had to start a waiting list."

As families arrived, they were paired with a volunteer from the bank who would help them get a new backpack then fill it with a variety of supplies to their liking. More than 400 backpacks were donated to be filled.

"This is my first time on Travis," said Allisa Flenoid, U.S. Bank volunteer. "I have done a lot of volunteer work with meals on wheels and the food bank, but this is great. It's very rewarding to see children of military members get taken care of like this. "