Last modified Wed., August 02, 2006 - 04:40 PM
Originally created Thursday, August 3, 2006

USO volunteers stuff back-to-school packs

By Clark Pierce, Staff writer

AZ3 Mark Villa of VP-45 carries out back-to-school packs ready for distribution.
Photos by Clark Pierce

"It's important that kids arrive at school ready to learnæand that means carrying a back pack with all the needed classroom supplies," said Sonja Kutsch, USO program director at NAS Jacksonville.

One dozen volunteers gathered at the USO on July 28 to fill more than 60 packs for the children of active duty personnel who were nominated by their commands.

"We're packing for Pre-K, kindergarten, and the first through fifth grades," explained Kutsch. "Thanks to the concern and generosity of our Navy Exchange and numerous commands, the support for this project was outstanding. In addition to back packs, notebooks, composition books and loose leaf paper, we have an ample supply of pens, pencils, glue, crayons, folders, scissors and pencil cases."

School supplies pile up in the USO office aboard NAS Jacksonville. These supplies were stuffed into backpacks and donated to more than 60 children of active-duty Sailors.

SK3 PeAtra Wilson of VP-30 arrived at the USO with a carton of new back packs.