Holiday Teacher Drive

Photo By Tech. Sgt. Donald Hudson | A teacher from West Elementary School looks over donated school supplies from the 374th Logistics and Readiness Squadrons Rising Six’s Holiday Teacher Drive Feb. 15, 2017, at Yokota Air Base, Japan. Seven members from the Rising Six gathered $2,400 worth of school supplies and $300 for Yokota Air Base schools. (U.S. Air Force Photos by Airman 1st Class Donald Hudson)  

YOKOTA AIR BASE, TOKYO, JAPAN

02.23.2017

Story by Airman 1st Class Donald Hudson  

374th Airlift Wing

The simple act of one person donating some inexpensive pencils or paper around the holidays may not seem like much, but those simple acts of kindness can add up quickly and have the ability to help ease the burden on Yokota’s teachers.
The 374th Logistics and Readiness Squadron’s Rising Six gathered school supplies in December 2016, during the Holiday Teacher Drive for donation to the Yokota Middle and Elementary schools.
The Rising Six sponsored the drive to help support the teachers collecting over $2,400 worth of school supplies and $300 in cash.
After learning that sometimes teachers have to buy various school supplies with their own money, members of the Rising Six decided to start the Holiday Teacher Drive.
“I have a daughter that goes to school on base,” said Staff Sgt. Kurtis A. Chase, 374 LRS NCO in charge of refueling maintenance and 374th Rising Six member and former president. “So I know that the teachers use or run out of some supplies more than others.”
The group donated supplies such as paper, pencils, dry erase markers, Kleenex, notebooks and other various items.
On Feb. 15, 2017 members of the Rising Six delivered the surprise school supplies to schools around base.
“These are the exact supplies we use the most,” said Sheryl Woodruff, Yokota West Elementary School reading specialist. “This is a wonderful surprise!”
The $300 in cash raised will be split between the Yokota Middle School and the two elementary schools. The money will go to the grade level that wins a group essay contest. The full details of the contest have not yet been determined.
According to Chase, the Rising Six is a combination of the 374 LRS’s First Four and Five Six Council. The group’s primary goal is to provide junior enlisted members with professional development, and to push understanding that all voices, ideas and opinions matter whether one is an airman basic or a general.
The Rising Six only has 374 LRS members at the moment, but anyone E-6 or below is welcome and encouraged to get involved.
In 2017 another Holiday Teacher Drive is scheduled to be held during the holiday season by the Rising Six.

• Date Taken: 02.23.2017
• Date Posted: 02.23.2017 01:48
• Story ID: 224370
• Location: YOKOTA AIR BASE, TOKYO, JP