VICENZA, Italy -- Members of the Zillah 167 Lodge visited the Kindergarten classes at the Vicenza Elementary School to donate school supplies Sept. 24.
Sgt. 1st Class Samuel Lee Curry Jr. from 414th Contracting Support Brigade and seven other members of the organization joined the event: Sgt. Maj. Montigo White U.S. Army Africa, Sgt.1st Class Timothy Piercey U.S. Army Africa, Staff Sgt. Christopher Sims U.S. Army Africa, Staff Sgt. Matthew Graham U.S. Army Africa, Sgt. Jonathan Gomez U.S. Army Africa, Staff Sgt. Derrick Clanton 173rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), and Staff Sgt. Samuel Griffin from U.S. Army Vicenza Health Center.
Lodge members, teachers and students from the seven kindergarten classes gathered at the main lobby of the Vicenza Elementary School to share the seven colorful boxes containing items such as books, crayons, glue, facial tissues, folders, erasers, and pencils.
The Zillah 167 Lodge was founded 20 years ago in June 1993 in Verona, and later moved to Vicenza. It has more than 70 members and is affiliated with Prince Hall Association of Freemasonry, Curry said.
The organization meets twice a month to discuss different ways on how to give a positive contribution to the community, by holding and participating in various fund raisers to promote charitable causes, Curry said.
The purpose of the event was to give back to the children of the community that are at the beginning of their school process, by ensuring them to have enough school supplies throughout the school year in case they run out of items. On the other hand it benefits budget parents.
"We want to help the children with the necessary items to grow, learn and enhance their capabilities, children were very surprised and excited to see us today", Curry said.
"Since all of us are parents, we felt overwhelmed and filled with joy to see the smiles on the children's faces. As they were receiving the school supplies, I could only think that as a child growing up in Alabama Roll Tide no one ever did anything of this magnitude for our schools, and to hear the children say thank you made me and my group feel appreciated and blessed. The key is the child success", Curry said.
Children response and feed-back were very positive. Some comments that were overheard that the donation was a nice surprise and the supplies are useful.
Catherine Midgette one of the teachers said "The kindergarten team really appreciates this thoughtful donation from the Zillah 167 Lodge and this is the first donation of this kind to the kindergarten students. It was a nice surprise especially since there are always a few who do not have supplies."
Social Sharing