Dulaney High Supports Former Student's Troop in Afghanistan

When Ron Glicksman learned that his daughter's troop in Afghanistan was lacking basic supplies, he turned to her old high school for assistance.

Nicole Alley, 36, had joined the Air Force after graduating from 18 years ago. She has been serving in Afghanistan for the past two years.

"When she got there, there were no supplies," said Glicksman, a 69-year-old Cockeysville resident. "The troops didn't have the most basic, most necessary items."

So the Student Government Association at Dulaney, with the assistance of students, school staff and parents, collected items to donate to Alley and the rest of her troop. Glicksman said that since late-December 2011, the school provided hundreds of dollars worth of food, toiletries and other vital supplies.

"The students at Dulaney High School are overwhelmingly kind and generous," said Rachel Baikauskas, a social studies teacher and co-sponsor of the student government. "They understand that through helping others we can make our communities and world a better place."

Baikauskas added that this charity drive was especially touching for the school community. Donations were collected at the students' homeroom classes.

"With the Afghanistan food drive there was a greater sense of immediacy," she said. "The students understood that soldiers give their lives to protect ours and it is our responsibility to reciprocate their generosity."

For his part, Glicksman, a retired manager for a limousine company, is overwhelmed with gratitude for the school's support.

"It's been a great program," he said. "Their support...it made me cry. The shelves in Afghanistan had been completely empty at times."

The has also provided regular donations, Glicksman said. Multiple calls to the chain's corporate office seeking comment were not returned.

Because Alley, who received an "Airman of the Year" award from the Pentagon last year that was presented by former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mike Mullen, is currently in Afghanistan, she was unable to comment for this article. But Glicksman said she and the rest of the troop are thrilled and thankful for the donations.

"She's so happy about it," he said.