Military children start off the school year on the right foot

By TSgt Amy Lovgren, 133rd Airlift Wing Public Affairs / Published September 16, 2013

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Staff Sgt. James Hubert, 133rd Logistics Readiness Squadron, collects boxes filled with school supplies in Minneapolis, Minn., Jul. 24, 2013. Hubert took on the role as lead coordinator to organize the pick-up, sorting, and distribution of school supplies donated from customers at Dollar Tree stores throughout the Twin Cities area in support of Operation Homefront and the Back-to-School-Brigade. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Amy M. Lovgren/ Released)

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“I was genuinely surprised on how the stores supported the need for school supplies,” said Staff Sgt. James Hubert, 133rd Logistics Readiness Squadron, about a recent collection of donated school supplies. Hubert took on the role as lead coordinator to organize the pick-up, sorting, and distribution of donated school supplies from customers at Dollar Tree stores throughout the Twin Cities area in support of Operation Homefront and the Back-to-School-Brigade. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Amy M. Lovgren/ Released)

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Airmen from the 133rd Airlift Wing volunteer to sort school supplies in St. Paul, Minn., Aug. 15, 2013. The school supplies were donated from customers at Dollar Trees stores throughout the Twin Cities area in support of Operation Homefront and the Back-to-School-Brigade. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Amy M. Lovgren/ Released) (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Amy M. Lovgren/ Released)

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Tech. Sgt. Victoria Christian, left, from the 133rd Maintenance Squadron, and Master Sgt. Aaron Bayer, right, 133rd Flight Support Squadron, separate donated school supplies for distribution in St. Paul, Minn., Aug. 15, 2013. The school supplies were donated from customers at Dollar Trees stores throughout the Twins Cities area in support of Operation Homefront and the Back-to-School-Brigade. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Amy M. Lovgren/ Released)

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Master Sgt. Crystal Galloway, 133rd Maintenance Operations Flight, tosses makers into the pile for donation in St. Paul, Minn., Aug. 15, 2013. The school supplies were donated from customers at Dollar Trees stores throughout the Twins Cities area in support of Operation Homefront and the Back-to-School-Brigade. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Amy M. Lovgren/ Released)

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Master Sgt. Amy Goossen, 133rd Maintenance Group, gathers school supplies for her children in St. Paul, Minn., Aug. 15, 2013. The school supplies were donated from Dollar Tree store customers throughout the Twins Cities area in support of Operation Homefront and the Back-to-School-Brigade. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Amy M. Lovgren/ Released)

Sept. 10, 2013 -- For the last six years, Operation Homefront's Back-to-School-Brigade has worked to collect donated school supplies that alleviate some of the financial stress of military members preparing to send their kids back to school.

Airmen from the 133rd Airlift Wing traveled to more than ten Dollar Tree stores in the Twin Cities area to gather donated school supplies for military children.

This operation provided more than 25 boxes of school supplies from Jul. 8, 2013, to Aug. 7, 2013. The Airmen of the 133rd Airlift Wing had had an opportunity to receive donated school supplies for their families, free of charge, during the August Unit Training Assembly.

"Military families deal not only with deployments and the other stresses of military life, but also the economic difficulties shared by all Americans. These donated school supplies enhance the morale and the success of our military children, while easing the burden military families carry." said Jim Knotts, President and CEO of Operation Homefront.

Each year, an average of 300 133rd Airlift Wing families are helped by the program.

"The cost of school supplies is going up every year," said Master Sgt. Amy Goossen, 133rd Maintenance Group. "I think it is wonderful that the community donates."