Annunciation Catholic School teams up with Columbus AFB

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Mark Hankes
  • 48th Flying Training Squadron Instructor Pilot
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  Annunciation Catholic School, in correspondence with their" In Our Nation Now day" teamed up with Columbus Air Force Base members on Feb. 1 to send 20 care packages to deployed Airmen.

"While service is something all classes do throughout the year, we want the school, as a community, to participate in at least two school wide service projects throughout the year as well," said Susan Allgood, Annunciation 3rd Grade teacher. "This year's Catholic Schools Week theme, 'Academics, Faith, and Service' made it perfect time to incorporate a school wide mission project.

The school chose In Our Nation day to celebrate local military men and women and what they do for the nation by giving back and supplying care packages said Allgood. The school also invited active duty and retired military personnel to join them in an assembly and reception in their honor. Capt. Tandon Mardis, an instructor pilot with the 48th Flying Training Squadron attended the assembly.

"Captain Mardis was motivating our students and sharing with them the impact a care package can make to deployed men and women," stated Mrs. Allgood.

The class was challenged to create ten care packages that would be sent to Columbus AFB men and women overseas. The class not only rose to the challenge, but quickly doubled to a total of 20 in a short period of time. Annunciation, despite being a small school, had an overwhelming response from the 3rd grade class, parents, and church members. They donated a conservatively estimated $1,000 worth of mixed nuts and seeds, beef jerky, lemonade mixes, etc. as well as personalized cards and letters written by the students.

"Our students are very aware that we are all called to serve others," said Allgood. "The fact that we have several military families as part of our school family gives our students a greater awareness of the sacrifice military people and their families make for us. Our students and parents are great about stepping up and helping others. By the CAFB (Columbus AFB) providing us with real names of military men and woman, the students here at Annunciation Catholic School knew exactly who we were helping from Columbus on the other side of the world serving in foreign countries. The students thrived on knowing men and women from Columbus were receiving their packages."