109th Airlift Wing delivers donated bikes

U.S. Air Force Capt. Mattew Sala, a pilot with the 139 Airlift Squadron and Senior Airman Nick O'Neil, a loadmaster with the 139 Airlift Squadron, members of theNew York Air National Guard, purchased and delivered 4 brand new bicycles and helmets to the Yates Elementary School in support of the 109th Airlift Wing's Mentoring program, June 10, 2013. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Lt. Col. Matthew LeClair/Released)

Airman Buy and Donate Bikes for Local Children

Published June 12, 2013
By 2nd Lt. Colette Martin
109th AW

SCOTIA, N.Y. -- The 109th Airlift Wing purchased and delivered four brand new bicycles and helmets to support children in need Monday at the Yates Arts in Education Magnet Elementary School in Schenectady N.Y.

Capt. Matthew Sala, a pilot and Senior Airman Nick O'Neil, a load master, both with the 139 Airlift Squadron helped to deliver the bikes in support of the Airlift Wing's Mentoring program. In addition to the new bikes, they also delivered four gently used bikes for the same program. The new bikes were purchased with volunteer money from the 109th Aircrew Life Equipment shop, the 139 Airlift Squadron Flight Engineer shop, the 109th All-Ranks Club and the 109th Alumni Association.

In total, 109th Airlift Wing donated eight brand new and four gently used bikes in the 2012-2013 school year supporting the Positive Behavior In School program at Yates. Other bikes were donated earlier this school year by the 109th Chief's Council, the 139AS Load Master Shop and the 139AS Pilot Shop.

In addition to providing donations to the school, the 109th Airlift Wing participates in a one-on-one reading program as part of the Mentoring Program, the highlight of the 10-year relationship between the Airlift Wing and the school.