school delivery

Salieva Veronika, a 10th grader at Jany Pahkta School in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, tries on a jacket March 15, 2012. Airmen from the 376th Expeditionary Force Support Squadron at the Transit Center at Manas visit the school once a month to donate school supplies and other items. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Lynsie Nichols)

school delivery

Mukasheva Aisuluu, 376th Expeditionary Force Support Squadron interpreter, helps Askar Kyzy Asida, an 11th grader at Jany Pahkta School in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, try on a jacket March 15, 2012. Although the 376th EFSS has already distributed jackets to the school, they wanted to ensure every child that needed received a jacket received one. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Lynsie Nichols)

Airmen donate jackets, school supplies to local school

Published March 16, 2012
By Senior Airman Lynsie Nichols
376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

TRANSIT CENTER AT MANAS, Kyrgyzstan -- Airmen from the 376th Expeditionary Force Support Squadron visited the Jany Pahkta School in Bishkek March 15 to donate school supplies and winter jackets.

"We visit the school once a month to donate school supplies and whatever else they might need," said Master Sgt. Rocio Resendiz, 376th EFSS contracting officer representative. "We also have another school, Oktybrskoye, which we sponsor as well."

Resendiz is deployed here from Carswell Air Force Base, Texas.

Although the 376th EFSS already distributed jackets to Jany Pahkta this winter they wanted to ensure every child in need of a jacket received one.

"Last time we were here, not all the children were present," Resendiz said. "We got the sizes of the children who were absent and made sure they would be here this time."

The students and teachers were grateful for the donated supplies.

"Thank you very much. You are welcomed in our school anytime," said Mairam Iseeva, Jany Pahkta School principal.

Donating the supplies had a positive effect on the Airmen as well.

"(I loved) seeing the smiles on their faces," said Staff Sgt. Nichole Link, 376th EFSS personnel support of contingency operations team member. "Just knowing that they are getting something and are excited about it makes me feel good."

Link is deployed here from Scott AFB, Ill.

To Resendiz, who is often referred to as the "school's daughter-in-law" by the principal, the visit had a more significant meaning.

"They brought out this photo album containing pictures from all of our visits," she said. "I just think that it's a good experience for future rotations to come out and experience giving. It's very enlightening."