TOP STORY >> Back-to-School Brigade set for Aug. 7

By Senior Airman Scott Poe

19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

Operation Homefront’s Back-to-School Brigade returns to give away school supplies for military children from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7 at the Walters Community Support Center. 

The event is for DEERS enrolled military children who will be in kindergarden through 12th grade this school year. Identification of all children registered will be required the day of the event.

By reaching out to active-duty families of E-1 through E-6 members, Operation Homefront hopes to relieve some of the financial stressors associated with military family life.

“Our mission is to serve military families and the Back-To-School-Brigade EXPO is one of our many programs designed to help alleviate financial stress for service members,” said Cecil Ennett, an Operation Homefront Arkansas community liaison. “Come out and visit with our community and installation partners and get a free backpack with school supplies.” 

It also saves military family members time that would normally go shopping for supplies.

“The Back-to-School Brigade was extremely helpful,” said Brandi Anderson, a military spouse. “My husband was out of town last year and the program saved me a lot of time and money, especially since I have three kids.” 

According to the National Retail Federation, $669.28 is the average amount spent on back-to-school apparel, school supplies, and electronics per family. 

Last year at the event on base Operation Homefront was able to serve over 250 children, representing 117 families at Little Rock Air Force Base with over $7,300 worth of school supplies and backpacks.  

Nationally, Operation Homefront hosted 109 distribution events, distributed more than 38,000 backpacks, along with over $5 million in school supplies. They were collected by nearly 2,000 volunteers at Dollar Tree stores nationwide ensuring 38,631 children were given filled backpacks at Operation Homefront events. 

Operation Homefront is a nonprofit national organization that helps military families and wounded warriors.

To register for these giveaways, go to: http://events.operationhomefront.net/Member/MyRegistrations; or visit their website: www.operationhomefront.net for more information.