School Board thanks donors for Seabees contribution

The Sarasota County School Board recognized schools, individuals and community organizations Tuesday, Sept. 17, for contributing personal items to US Navy personnel stationed in Afghanistan at the School Board meeting.

District facilities department manager Steve Clark and his wife and benefits specialist in the Risk Management Department, Valeta, initiated the project. Clark is also a Senior Chief Petty Officer in the US Naval Reserve Seabees.

Seabees are Navy construction battalions that build bridges, airstrips, housing, power grids, water supplies, sewer systems and any other facilities soldiers or sailors in the field may need.

Clark said that he knew from his own deployments to combat zones that many personal items like socks, gloves and toothpaste are often in short supply. Other items like snacks, magazines and music are often not available at all.

Clark says he and his wife sent items to Seabees during Christmas and when he mentioned their good deed to his colleagues at the Facilities Department “the idea caught fire.” The idea spread to schools and departments in the district who also wanted to contribute.

Clark shipped more than 500 pounds of personal supplies to Seabees in Afghanistan.

Each honoree received an American flag with a certificate that certified it had bee flown over an American base in Afghanistan for their donations.

Contact Yaryna Klimchak | Community Editor