Butler Middle School sends snacks to troops
A bunch of soldiers overseas can thank the students at Butler Middle School for shipping a pallet's worth of snacks their way.
Every homeroom class at Butler Middle School spent Friday morning packing treats into boxes to be shipped to a U.S. Air Force base in the Middle East. Classes packed 190 boxes of food, in line with past years' totals.
The annual giving was started by Kara Hovancik, a sixth-grade science and social studies teacher. Besides shipping some appreciation to the troops, Hovancik said she hoped the activity taught a lesson.
“I feel like community service is a loss with kids now,” Hovancik said. “They don't understand that giving back to people outside their four walls means more to being a well-rounded student. My goal is to make these kids aware that there's more than just our small community. They reach people throughout the world.”
Air Force Tech Sgt. Michael Scuillo of Butler helped Hovancik's class pack up their share of the boxes.
“The base these are going to, there isn't really a store,” Scuillo told the class. “A lot of what they have on base is just stuff people send over.”
Members of Pittsburgh's 911th Airlift Wing are lending a hand with the project. Hovancik's husband, Justin, is a senior master sergeant in the unit.
Postage was provided by Butler American Legion Post 117. Several veterans with the legion come each year to meet students and load the truck.
The legion paid about $3,300 for postage this year.
Amelia Bosco, 12, of Butler said she hoped the packages brighten their recipients' days.
“They don't get to be with their families all the time,” Amelia said. “They need something to remind them of home.”
Zachary Slear, 12, of Butler said he was glad to be volunteering.
“Helping out the community makes me feel like I'm doing something,” Zachary said.
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