Navy Munitions Command East Asia Division participates in Operation Warming Heart

MISAWA AIR BASE, AOMORI, JAPAN

08.18.2015

Story by Petty Officer 3rd Class Samuel Weldin 

Naval Air Facility Misawa

MISAWA, Japan -- Sailors from Navy Munitions Command East Asia Division (NMC EAD) Unit Misawa volunteered their time assembling back-to-school backpacks and supplies as a part of Misawa Air Base’s Back-to-School Drive hosted by the Misawa Officer Spouses’ Club (MOSC) and Operation Warming Heart (OWH).

Seventy-four backpacks were filled up with the proper school supplies for military families that are more financially stressed this year.

“This year we bundled 135 bags of school supplies, and the MOSC donated the funds to purchase 74 backpacks, which OWH will distribute to the special families here on Misawa Air Base,” said Monica Butler, the MOSC Misawa Back-to-School Drive Coordinator. “Volunteers have been collecting donations in the AAFES Exchange entrance for the last month, then we all joined together this morning at the NMC facility with MOSC members and their children, OWH members, and NMC personnel.”

The MOSC makes it common practice to host events like this throughout the year and OWH is just one of the Misawa community organizations that receive donations from them.
The MOSC has partnered with OWH and the Army and Air Force Exchange Service Exchange the past three years collecting donated supplies from the community before the beginning of school for children in kindergarten through sixth grade.

"It was great to be able to provide support for the kids here in Misawa as they prepare for another school year. These donated supplies should ease the burden for some parents who may be trying to save a little money," said Senior Chief Mineman Jack Garza, from New Braunfels, Texas, Navy Munitions Command East Asia Division (NMC EAD) Unit Misawa's Senior Enlisted Leader.

OWH supports all U.S. service branches across the Department of Defense, which makes it especially effective in supporting Misawa’s diverse military community.

"This is definitely a project the base needs to help these special families start off their school year on the right foot. Getting ready for school is always so expensive and we hope this will take some of the stress back out of school shopping,” said Butler. “But without all the support of the Misawa Community, we wouldn't have been able to do as much. This joint effort between all of our groups shows how big peoples’ hearts are and how the military is one big family."

For more news from Naval Air Facility Misawa, Japan, visit www.navy.mil/local/nafmisawa/.

• Date Taken: 08.18.2015
• Date Posted: 08.17.2015 21:02
• Story ID: 173443
• Location: MISAWA AIR BASE, AOMORI, JP
• Hometown: NEW BRAUNFELS, TX, US