AEDC junior officer’s council supports Teens for Jeans

  • Published
  • By Philip Lorenz III
  • AEDC/PA
ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, Tenn. --  With help from AEDC's Company Grade Officer's Council (CGOC) and others, the Franklin County High School's "Teens for Jeans" Drive was a success.

A couple of weeks ago, 2nd Lt. Matthew Karczewski, a hypersonic propulsion test engineer for AEDC's Aerodynamic and Propulsion Test Unit (APTU) and CGOC member, put out the word for donations base-wide.

"Last year FCHS AFROTC collected 3,692 jeans to help homeless teens, this year they would like to reach 5,000 jeans," he said in that initial message. "With our help they will be able to achieve that goal."

As of Feb. 12, the drive ended and FCHS not only met the goal, they exceeded it.

"This year's total was 6,522 [pairs of jeans]," said retired Chief Master Sgt. Everett Smith, Franklin County High School aerospace science instructor and assistant wrestling coach. "I retired as the center superintendent from Arnold AFB and was exposed to the numerous good works the CGOC championed then and their continued positive impact on the surrounding community. As an instructor in an Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps unit, this will expose our cadets to the teamwork among military units and how we place service before self.

"The CGOC brought their enthusiasm and energy to a very worthy cause. Their ability to organize a base-level effort has helped us make a big difference. Their combined effort with the Franklin County community has allowed us to reach more people with the message."

The non-profit organization DoSomething.Org and clothing retailer Aeropostale teamed up in 2008 to motivate young people to help others through the national campaign now known as Teens for Jeans.

Smith put the effort into perspective.

"One out of three homeless people is 18 and under," he said. "In the U.S. and Canada the number of homeless teens is about 1.5 million. The drive is called Teens for Jeans. The idea is for teens to help fellow teens across the nation.

"The jeans are distributed locally and in middle Tennessee. I was told by one of the receiving organizations that jeans are a very prized item for distribution. They provide warmth and are important for wear at work and during job-seeking efforts."

Regarding his group's involvement, Lieutenant Karczewski said, "This is my first assignment so I hadn't done anything like this yet and I thought it would be a good experience. The CGOC decided to help out because the drive is for a good cause and we knew we could really help FCHS's Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps meet their goal. The main focus of this drive is for homeless teenagers, but it also benefits all homeless people."