backpack drive

DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Staff Sgt. Darcie Ibidapo, 7th Bomb Wing public affairs multimedia manager and 56 Club member, accepts backpack donations from an Airman at the Base Exchange Aug. 18. The 56 Club collected 47 backpacks stuffed with school supplies worth $1,544 in an effort to contribute to the Abilene Independent School District. (Photo by Tech. Sgt. Yolanda Hands)

backpack drive

DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Dyess 56 Club held a backpack and school supply drive Aug. 18 at the Base Exchange to give some Abilene Independent School District students a head start for the new school year. Volunteers collected 47 backpacks full of school supplies filled with everything from scissors and glue to notebooks and pencils, worth a total of $1,544. (Photo by Tech. Sgt. Yolanda Hands)

Backpack drive

DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Tech. Sgt. Yolanda Hands, President of the 56 Club, organizes donated backpacks filled with school supplies during the 56 Club's school supply drive at the Base Exchange here, Aug. 18. The 56 Club consists of staff and technical sergeants who volunteer time to support the local community, on and off base. The school supply drive, "Airmen for AISD" (Abilene Independent School District), was designed to provide school supplies to children from less fortunate families, ensuring they have the required supplies for the school year while emphasizing in the importance of educating youth. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sergeant Connor Estes)

Dyess NCOs give back to Abilene community

Published Aug. 20, 2008
By Senior Airman Carolyn Viss
7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs

DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Dyess 56 Club held a backpack and school supply drive Aug. 18 at the Base Exchange to give some Abilene Independent School District students a head start for the new school year.

Volunteers collected 47 backpacks full of school supplies filled with everything from scissors and glue to notebooks and pencils, worth a total of $1,544.

"This is really what our organization is all about," said Tech. Sgt. Yolanda Hands, 56 Club president. "There are about 200 members of our club, and we're here to give back to on- and off-base communities."

About 10 56 Club members manned the collection point from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The 56 Club is comprised of staff and technical sergeants who promote professional enhancement through enlisted heritage and core values. Previous community events the club has promoted and volunteered to support include Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Bowl for Kids' Sake, blood drives for the Meek Blood Center at Hendricks, and the Walk for Babies, which recently helped Dyess and Abilene raise more than $145,000.

Mary Ann Martin, the Partner's for Education coordinator with AISD, was also on base for the event. She was excited to see Dyess finding ways to connect with the community again. The backpacks will be delivered to students at Fannin Elementary School, which the principal, Kim Farmer, was "elated" to hear, she said.

"[Ms. Farmer] was absolutely beside herself when she found out about this partnership," Ms. Martin said. Many Airmen from the base already serve as tutors and mentors, and have made "a phenomenal difference" in AISD, she said.

"We are absolutely amazed at how much comes from Dyess. We just couldn't be successful without you," Ms. Martin said.

The donation of school supplies was especially timely because of the recent changes in the economy. With rising gas and food prices, many families already have to find ways to cut back and sacrifice, Ms. Martin said. In families with several children in school, it makes a huge difference to have help with everyday school necessities.

Dyess is now officially an AISD "adopt-a-school" sponsor. Ms. Martin said the district will recognize the base and community relationship at the annual Partners in Education dinner and is excited to see how the relationship will grow.

"This drive was a huge success," Sergeant Hands said. "We look forward to doing it again next year."