Airmen work together to prepare classrooms for elementary students

Staff Sgt. Brandon Wall, from the 390th Intelligence Squadron, carries a book shelf with the help of Master Sgt. Mark Angelico, from the 18th Contracting Squadron, to a storage area at Bob Hope Elementary School at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Aug. 26, 2011. More than 100 Airmen from all over Kadena volunteered to help move furniture and supplies at the school after Typhoon Mufia damaged some of the storage areas and classrooms. (U.S. Air Force photo by/Senior Airman Sara Csurilla)

Airmen work together to prepare classrooms for elementary students

Staff Sgt. Jonnathan Clay, from the 353 Special Operations Group, carries a cabinet from one classroom to another at the Bob Hope Elementary School at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Aug. 26, 2011. More than 100 Airmen from all over Kadena volunteered to help move furniture and supplies at the school after Typhoon Mufia damaged some of the storage areas and classrooms. (U.S. Air Force photo by/Senior Airman Sara Csurilla)

Airmen work together to prepare classrooms for elementary students

Published Aug. 30, 2011
By Senior Airman Sara Csurilla
18th Wing Public Affairs

KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- What happens when someone asks for a couple volunteers to help out an elementary school at Kadena?

More than a hundred Airmen raise their hand and ask, "What do you need me to do?"

This is exactly what happened when Ami Prince, the Air Force school liaison here, asked for a few Airmen to come to Bob Hope Elementary School and help move furniture and school supplies around the school grounds Aug. 25.

"Parts of the school including computer labs and storage areas were damaged during the last typhoon," said Jim Journey, Bob Hope Elementary principal. "We had to relocate a number of people inside of our building to make room for the computer lab and for people to stay. We've even doubled-up classrooms in order to be ready for the boys and girls when they get back to school."

When Prince initially asked for help with moving furniture in the school, she said she only needed about 50 Airmen.

"When we had so many people want to help out, we knew we could use the help so we also had them help move some things in other schools around base," she said.

"We're really happy to be helping the students and the teachers here at Bob Hope Elementary School," said Master Sgt. Michael Shea, a volunteer from the 18th Equipment Maintenance Squadron. "With so many people helping we'll have the job done a lot faster, and that's with other schools as well."

Starting Aug. 29, more than 625 students headed back to school and settled into their new classrooms, and now they have Airmen from the 18th Wing to thank for that.

"There was an overwhelming response from Kadena Airmen to volunteer," Journey said. "When they showed up they were so willing and ready to work. They have had such great attitudes. We really appreciate the support from the community and the base."