ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- Many view teachers as unsung heroes, but Team Robins sang praises loud and clear for local educators through a month-long voluntary campaign, called “Team Robins 4 Teachers.”
Robins employees, along with some local businesses, donated nearly 10,500 items over a 30-day period, such as pencils, notebooks, glue sticks, scissors, hand sanitizer, backpacks, dictionaries, and much more. The value of the teaching supplies donated eclipsed $40,000.
“I’m very grateful that our Team Robins members recognize the dedication of our teachers, who use their own personal money to buy school supplies for students in need,” said Renee Daughtry, Robins Air Force Base school liaison officer. “The support shown by Robins was absolutely amazing.”
A small team of people organized and managed the campaign led by Master Sgt. Brian Arrington.
“This campaign would not have been as successful had it not been for Master Sgt. Adam Avery, Master Sgt. Patricia Houston, Tech. Sgt. April Nixon, Tech. Sgt. Tiffany Brown, and Renee Daughtry,” said Arrington, Team Robins 4 Teachers project lead.
In early July, the group put together 51 donation boxes and delivered them to 30 locations around the installation and off base at the Veterans Education Career Transition Resource Center.
Donations rapidly increased a few weeks into the campaign when the team got creative.
“We implemented a campaign-wide competition for the agency raising the most items, and it really paid off,” said Arrington. “That’s when the campaign took on a whole new level of success.”
Arrington had extra motivation to ensure an effective campaign.
“My sister is a teacher in north Georgia,” he said. “I knew that she and many of her peers spend quite a bit out of their own pocket each year to make sure the underprivileged students that come to their classes, without supplies, have the resources they need to be successful.”
Team Robins 4 Teachers was officially wrapped up on Aug. 14 when members of the campaign team, 78th Air Base Wing Commander Col. Lyle Drew and 78th ABW Command Chief Master Sgt. Gary Hart traveled to Perry, Ga., to attend the Houston County Board of Education meeting.
The group was greeted with applause and smiles when the commander officially announced the results of Team Robin 4 Teachers.
“Before we get the privilege of leading America’s next generation of leaders, our teachers dedicate themselves to educating them,” Drew said. “They deserve our thanks and support.
“I am proud of the great relationship we have with the Houston County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Mark Scott, the Board of Education, and their tremendous educators that ensure Team Robins’ children receive the best education possible.” Drew added.