Yokota Air Base, Japan --
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.