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YMCA steps up to help a reservist in need

  • Published
  • By Maj. Wayne Capps
  • 315th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
Summerville, S.C. --  Being a mother of six children is hard enough, but add a two-month deployment and a husband who works full time and it becomes almost unmanageable.

When Staff Sergeant Kia Jenkins, a reserve education and training counselor with the 315th Force Support Squadron here was notified of her impending deployment, her civilian employer, the Summerville, S.C. YMCA, quickly stepped up to help take care of her children while she was away.

"She is easy to support because she is such a wonderful employee," said Jan Parsons, YMCA supervisor. "We are all very grateful for her serving her country."

After the fantastic support Staff Sgt. Jenkins received, she submitted her employer for the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Patriot Employer Award and her supervisor, Jan Parsons was selected.

In her award nomination, Staff Sgt. Jenkins explained "My co-workers rallied around me and one co-worker even came over every day for two and a half months while I was gone to make sure my kids got on the bus and took my little ones to daycare."

According to Sergeant Jenkins, this support came when it was really needed. "My husband works for Boeing and has to be at work very early. I just didn't know how I was going to manage it," she said. But, they gave me a list of phone number of people who would help. If one person was not available, they called someone else who could come over. They are my second family and they really support me."

On March 10, 2014 Col. James Fontanella, 315th Airlift Wing commander along with representatives from the ESGR presented Jan Parsons and YMCA employees with the Patriot Award for their unwavering support for Staff Sgt. Jenkins and her family.

"Without employers like you, we could not do our jobs," said Col. Fontanella. "When she needed a hand, you were there. I know she appreciates it and we all appreciate everything you have done for her.