Retention team volunteers prepare dinner for local shelter

Photo By Brian Parker | From the left, Sgt. 1st Class Christina Dauria-Cox, from Fort Meade, Master Sgt. James Meyers, from the Fort Myer portion of Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, and Sgt. 1st Class Patrick Burnish, from 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), prepare a meal at the Eleanor U. Kennedy Shelter, Fort Belvoir, Dec. 6. (Photo by Rachel Larue)  

FORT BELVOIR, VA, UNITED STATES

12.06.2013

Courtesy Story

Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall

By Jim Dresbach

FORT BELVOIR, Va. - Schedules fill fast during the fleeting hours and days of the holiday season, but all calendars were cleared Dec. 6 by 11 members of the Military District of Washington retention team, who volunteered to prepare dinner at Fort Belvoir, Virginia’s Eleanor U. Kennedy shelter.

An evening meal of spaghetti, salad and pumpkin pie was whipped together and the halls of the 50-bed shelter’s dining room were decked by career counselors from Belvoir, Fort Meade and Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall.

The meal and decoration preparation was organized by MDW career counselor Sgt. 1st Class Samira Abdullah.

"Volunteering is actually a passion of mine," said Abdullah, a Belvoir-based retention counselor. "I think it is a way to reflect on others and giving back especially during the holiday season. I think that giving some time to help your community is an ultimate, grateful act."

The Kennedy shelter is part of New Hope Housing, which oversees a string of facilities throughout northern Virginia to assist homeless men, women and children. Groups like the retention team volunteer throughout the month to prepare suppers and dinners.

"This is a tremendous help," said New Hope Housing’s Community Outreach and Volunteer Coordinator Chris Bramante. "As you can imagine, if you’re preparing [meals] for 50 to 100 people, it is a tremendous expense. But when a group comes in and prepares a hot meal, it is fantastic."

Taking time away from their Fort Myer-based retention assignments were Master Sgt. James Meyers and 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) career counselors Sgt. First Class Patrick Burnish and Staff Sgt. Christopher McCuiston. While Meyers assembled the pasta sauce, the Burnish-McCuiston combo chopped vegetables and finished the salad preparations. The three said they felt privileged to lend a hand during the afternoon cooking.

"It is a great thing to give out to others who need assistance, so this is a great opportunity to lend a helping hand wherever we can," said Burnish. "It is a humbling experience to be able to help others. Lending a helping hand is a great thing to do."

Other retention Soldiers lending their culinary and holiday decorating talents were Master Sgts. Matthew Middleton, DeCarlo Johnson, Leslie Thurmond and Allan Mason, Staff Sgt. Shaun Holman and Sgts. 1st Class Jose Cubillos and Christina Dauria-Cox.

• Date Taken: 12.06.2013
• Date Posted: 12.13.2013 14:33
• Story ID: 118201
• Location: FORT BELVOIR, VA, US