Harvest House “Back 2 School Supply Stash” Published June 7, 2012 By Airman 1st Class Mariah Haddenham 36th Wing Public Affairs ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam -- The Andersen Fire Department will be volunteering at the Harvest Baptist Church for a school supply drive August 4, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event will be held at the Harvest Family Life Center, across the street from the Harvest Baptist Church. Harvest House, an organization for the foster children of Guam, is connected to the Harvest Baptist Church in Barrigada, Guam. The organization cares for approximately 260 children, only having around 27 foster parents in the program. Events like the Harvest House "Back 2 School Supply Stash" help provide foster children with the school materials that they are required to have at the beginning of a new school year, preparing them for a year of academic success. "We've just recently taken up arms with Harvest House and become involved in their good cause, it's a great program," said Jason Crandall, 36th Civil Engineer Squadron fire fighter and a member of the Board of Harvest House. "The Andersen Fire Department will be a drop off location for school supplies. The primary items we are looking for are mesh or clear backpacks, organizational 3 ring binders, assortment of pens and pencils and notebook paper and the last day for donations will be July 27." Each child will get to choose a backpack that will contain the primary donated items. Additional items being accepted are scissors, glue, colored pencils, crayons, pencils, index cards, highlighters, erasers and basic or scientific calculators. "The 'Back 2 School Supply Stash' will include a bouncy house and a fiesta luncheon, we want to make a day of it for the children," said Mr. Crandall. "This gives the children a chance to socialize with other children in their same situation and helps them make friends." The event helped more than 150 children last year and the organization is hopeful to help just as many, if not more, this year. "Last year's effort put new backpacks and school supplies into the hands of these dear children," said Crystal Box, foster Mom and President of the Guam Foster Families Association. "To see their faces light up, the giant smiles as they got something that belonged to them was amazing, a wonderful thing to see. To know that Families on Andersen and throughout the Joint Region Marianas are choosing help with this effort is very heartening. I would encourage them to come to the Harvest House event to see what their loving gifts do for these children."