JB MDL first sergeants donate to Afghan children Published May 26, 2010 By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Elizabeth Burke 438th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs KABUL, Afghanistan -- Soldiers from the Afghan National Army Air Corps and Airmen from the 438th Air Expeditionary Wing, Combined Air Power Transition Force, held a joint humanitarian mission May 17. They distributed school supplies to 1,300 students of the Hope School in Kabul, Afghanistan. The 438th AEW began collecting school supplies in March. More than 40 organizations contributed to this community outreach program including Adopt a Soldier Platoon, the First Sergeant's Councils of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst and Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., as well as friends, family, churches and businesses in the U.S. Once the school supplies arrived they were organized by item. Volunteers loaded backpacks with pencils, pens, erasers and paper. Boxes of school supplies were also donated to teachers at the Hope School. The children charmed the Airmen with their smiles, questions and English. The Airmen of the 438th enjoyed this mission even though it brings to mind their families at home. "Today is my son's ninth birthday," said Master Sgt. Bubba Beason, 438th AEW first sergeant, "and this is the fifth one I have missed ... but you can't put a price on the smile of a child." Members of the 438th AEW plan to continue this mission in the future.