Counter IED team member donates school supplies to Afghan children

  • Published
  • By Army Pfc. Melissa Stewart
  • Task Force Spartan Public Affairs
LOGAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan (AFNS) --  An administrative sergeant with a counter improvised explosive device team here is making sure local children head to their new school with plenty of school supplies in hand. 

Tech. Sgt. Michelle Stokes, assigned to Forward Operating Base Shank, purchased colored pens, pencils, notebooks, markers and various other school supplies with her own money and donated them to children of the nearby village of Polerad.

"I always try to find a way to give back, whatever it may be," Sergeant Stokes said. "To see the little kids' smiling faces was enough for me."

Sergeant Stokes stuffed backpacks with the new supplies and distributed them with the help of her fellow CIED teammates.

"I liked seeing the girls actually got something," Sergeant Stokes said.

Due to cultural dynamics in Afghanistan, girls generally have fewer opportunities to go to school or receive new supplies and clothes. 

"That was my whole intention, to get the girls school supplies and toys," Sergeant Stokes said.

Humanitarian efforts may not seem to directly effect combat operations, but they do demonstrate to locals that U.S. forces want to help improve Afghan quality of life.

"It's good to do something that will leave a lasting effect on the children," said Tech. Sgt. Brandon Livingstone, explosive ordinance disposal team leader. "Years from now they could say 'I remember when the Americans came through and gave us stuff to help us stay in school.'"