Airmen donate supplies to Sumter students

By Airman 1st Class Benjamin Ingold, 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs / Published September 11, 2018

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Members of Rafting Creek Elementary School and Shaw Air Force Base (AFB) stand with school supplies in Sumter, S.C., Sept. 10, 2018. The supplies were provided by Shaw AFB Airmen to help the students pursue their education. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Benjamin Ingold)

SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- Not every school student arrives on the first day of class with everything they need to be successful.

Airman 1st Class Wendy Andrade, 20th Medical Group commanders support staff technician and other members of the 20th MDG and 20th Force Support Squadron donated school supplies to students at Rafting Creek Elementary School, Sumter, Sept. 10.

“I went to my first day of high school without a pencil,” said Andrade. “I had to borrow a pencil from a friend and it really got to me.”

Andrade understood what it was like to not be properly prepared to go to school and wanted to make a difference for children like her.

“I know how hard it is for students to go back to school and sometimes parents cannot buy all of their school supplies so I thought I could help,” said Andrade.

Andrade coordinated with her coworker Senior Airman Mattie Tejada and Mr. John Kennedy to collect the supplies and bring them to the school.

“We are a small school and are always in need of supplies,” said Jennifer Howard, Rafting Creek Elementary School principal. “We are grateful to the Shaw Medical Group for giving us the supplies.”

The supplies donated by Andrade and her partners will provide these students the materials they need to keep pursuing their education. Shaw AFB Airmen continue to serve the community, strengthening the ties between Team Shaw and its local citizens.