Fort Hood Soldiers help students on first day of school

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Brandon Banzhaf | Pfc Lacara Miles (right), a Yanceyville, N.C., native, and Pfc. Tianhui Nie, a Fontana, Calif., native, both with the 215th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, help the staff of Bellaire Elementary School direct parents where to take their children, Aug. 24 at Killeen, Texas. Miles and Nie are volunteering on the first day of school in support of the Adopt-A-School program.  

KILLEEN, TX, UNITED STATES

08.24.2015

Story by Sgt. Brandon Banzhaf 

3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division

KILLEEN, Texas – At the sound of school bells ringing throughout the halls, teachers opened the front doors to welcome students and parents on the first day of school.

Soldiers of the 215th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division dotted the halls at Bellaire Elementary School with donations in hand to welcome parents and children headed back to school.

The donations were school supplies meant to help students start the year safely and prepared.

“Too often do we pass by, coming and going; this gives us an opportunity to meet our neighbors and for our neighbors get to know us,” said Lt. Col. Steve Erickson, a Columbus, Ohio, native and commander of the 215th BSB. “We have some donated supplies to get the year started off right, and we also have Soldiers in the hallways directing traffic.”

Guiding traffic, handing out packets, and guiding students to their classes, more than 15 Soldiers volunteered at Bellaire to offer support.

“I think events like these help the community see a different side of the military, and show the difference that we can make,” said Edith Bedolla Vera, a Kenosha, Wisconsin, native and career counselor for 215th BSB.

The battalion assisted their Adopt-A-School partner by donating 88 backpacks with school supplies - more than double the amount from last year.

“I donated a backpack and first grade school supplies,” said Pfc. Randall Potter, a Cincinnati native and motor transport operator for 215th BSB. “I donated just to help the kids because everyone doesn’t have everything. I help out where I can.”

The Adopt-A-School program gives units an opportunity to lend a hand to the school and the overall community.

“The Adopt-A-School program helps a lot of different ways,” said Erickson. “It lets the community see a face to a Soldier in uniform.”

It wasn’t just the first day of school for the students, but also for some of the staff.

“It is my first day as the principal,” said Lavonda Loney, principal of Bellaire Elementary. “I get to have a first day right along with my students.”

As staff and Soldiers lined the halls to guide the masses of students, faculty members directed those who still needed supplies to the library.

“Bellaire is a title one school, which means that we have students that are in need,” said Loney. “Because of that, there are some that don’t have backpacks who has been working in the Killeen Independent School District for 20 years. So it’s helpful to us that the unit was able to find enough backpacks to donate to the school so students will have what they need.”

Loney said the school appreciates the support from its partnered unit.

“My experience with the 215th has been absolutely outstanding,” said Loney. “I am thankful and grateful for the partnership that we have with the military to ensure that all of our campuses are taken care of, so that all of our students will have a successful year.”

• Date Taken: 08.24.2015
• Date Posted: 08.24.2015 18:09
• Story ID: 174106
• Location: KILLEEN, TX, US
• Hometown: CINCINNATI, OH, US
• Hometown: COLUMBUS, OH, US
• Hometown: FONTANA, CA, US
• Hometown: KENOSHA, WI, US
• Hometown: KILLEEN, TX, US
• Hometown: YANCEYVILLE, NC, US