NASSAU, Bahamas - An air of excitement echoed throughout Woodcock Primary School today, as eager students jostled each other to see the stacks of red tubs filled with more than $6,000 in donated school supplies and educational games courtesy of U.S. Northern Command.
U.S. Ambassador Nicole A. Avant, joined by a group of more than 20 U.S. servicemembers and Embassy volunteers, personally distributed the supplies and games to the eager students.
The visit and generous donation was inspired by President Barak Obama, who called on all Americans and U.S. embassy staff around the world to honor those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001, by taking part in a service activity in the local community.
USNORTHCOM funded the donation as part of its longstanding partnership with the people of The Bahamas and demonstrates the Department of Defense’s commitment to helping to strengthen communities and build partnerships around the world.
"It's neighbors helping neighbors, and that's what we're all about here at USNORTHCOM," said Dan Hansen, USNORTHCOM Humanitarian Assistance Program manager. "We are very pleased to able to partner with the U.S. Country Team, Ambassador Avant, and our USNORTHCOM Office of Defense Coordination to support this donation as part of our Commander's Humanitarian Assistance Program. It may seem like a small thing, but it's one of those things that shows US Northern Command's commitment to our neighbors in The Bahamas and elsewhere throughout our area of focus."
Each of the 14 classes at Woodcock Primary received a colorful tub of school supplies which should last students the entire year. The donation included over 1,100 composition books, close to 2,000 crayons, over 43,000 sheets of loose leaf paper, a variety of educational games and more than 50 multicultural children's books.
"We understand that it is a difficult economic time for many Bahamian parents and we hope that this donation by the U.S. Embassy will help ease the burden and allow Woodcock parents to focus on their children's academic achievement," said Avant.