Students donate blankets, rice to homeless

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jonathan Fowler
  • 374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan --  Yokota West Elementary School recently donated blankets and rice to the homeless in Japan.

Kindergarten through 5th grade students began collecting blankets Nov. 23 and presented the blankets and rice Jan. 10 to Brother Luke Villeneuve, who works with Homeless Ministry.

The Student Council chose to do the collection for the homeless from a list they had devised, said Ms. Yvette Andrews, a 4th grade teacher and YWES Student Council advisor.

"We thought about the homeless," said 5th grader Jaden Anderson, student council president. "We thought we should give them something since we were more fortunate then them."

"I was overwhelmed by the reaction," Ms. Andrews said. "A couple students took their own money, their allowance from home, went the commissary and bought rice."

Brother Luke also expressed his gratitude and surprise at the amount of rice and blankets collected.

"I was really pleased," Brother Luke said. "I feel so impressed. There are no words to express my gratitude and joy."

During the presentation, Brother Luke also tried to impart to students knowledge of what a homeless person goes through.

"I tried to explain to them that the homeless have no money or credit cards," Brother Luke said after asking students what they did when they needed food. Most responded that they buy food at the commissary with money or a credit card.

Brother Luke said the blanket and rice drive was a great experience for the students.

"It gives the students a chance to learn and share," he said.

For more information on the YWES blanket and drive, call Ms. Andrews at 225-8217.