AEDC works to warm up children in need

  • Published
  • By Philip Lorenz III
  • AEDC/PA
Arnold Air Force Base, Tenn. --  Each year, the Arnold Engineering Development Center's (AEDC) Top 3 Council, Air Force Sergeants Association and Aerospace Testing Alliance (ATA) strive to make a difference to local communities with fund drives and donations.

As part of this effort, the local chapter of the Top 3 Council will donate coats to at risk or disadvantaged children in surrounding communities.

"Naturally, we ensure the quality of these coats, but it would be too costly to insist on new ones," Master Sgt. Harold Jones, Arnold Top 3 Council's secretary and treasurer, explained. "I called around Coffee County to figure out how to best distribute the donated coats within our area. The Coffee County Department of Children services seemed to be the best fit and have the most need."

Since organizations like this can't solicit donations or funds, he said it seemed particularly appropriate to help the children they serve.

"I delivered 100-plus jackets, and they were extremely pleased and thankful," he said. "I asked when the best time to deliver the jackets, and they told me right way because they had kids that were in need and going without."

Jo Ann Bobo, with the Department of Children's Services for Bedford, Coffee, Lincoln, and Moore counties, said the coats donated by AEDC and those who supported the effort positively impacted a particularly vulnerable segment of the population.

"Since our agency and no one associated with it is allowed to solicit donations, whether you're talking about money, clothes or anything else, this contribution from AEDC was particularly significant," she said.

Sergeant Jones said that this effort wouldn't have been possible without the support of others, both on base and outside the gate.

"AFSA (Air Force Sergeants Association's chapter at AEDC) has donated $200 dollars, Wal-Mart kicked in another $50, and the CGOs (Company Grade Officers) collected coats during the Turkey Trot. ATA (as voted on by the Employment and Community Activities Committee) will be donating $200 as well."

Sergeant Jones said Arnold's enlisted Top 3 Council donated $300 for the initial effort and that the group will also be delivering another 25 to 30 new coats for teens through their "Karing for Teens" program in Tullahoma School District hopefully before Thanksgiving.