Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Michael Davis | The Maryland National Guard's Partners in Care initiative donated 50 Thanksgiving...... read more read more
BALTIMORE – The Maryland National Guard's Partners in Care initiative donated 50 holiday meals to Soldiers and Airmen for Thanksgiving. The meals were delivered to the Fifth Regiment Armory in Baltimore, Md., Nov. 24, 2014.
This support for service members and their families is done annually. This year was the first time the food was delivered to the armory.
“We usually go pick them [meals] up and deliver them to the Soldiers,” said Sgt. Noel Mason, Maryland National Guard chaplain’s assistant.
Mason said the traditional part-time MDNG service members referred by their supervisors are eligible for the holiday meal. With the help of chaplains, and other service members, Mason assisted with the food distribution.
“I feel blessed,” said Spc. Jerry Paige, expressing his gratitude toward receiving a holiday meal.
Just coming home in June from a deployment with the 1229th Transportation Company, Paige said he is looking forward to having Thanksgiving dinner with his wife and three children.
A few Soldiers like Paige were able to pick up their meal from the Armory, but others who were not able to had their family or other service members pick it up for them.
Sgt. Kimberly Kline, an administrative noncommissioned officer with the 29th Military Police Company, traveled two hours to pick up a few meals for Soldiers in her unit.
“We had four Soldiers who signed up for the turkey meals, but they couldn’t make the drive so I drove over here for them,” Kline said.
Even Thurman Doolittle, a fellow veteran who was responsible for driving the truck filled with the holiday food, helped by downloading the meals off the truck.
Doolittle said he served as a chaplain’s assistant while in the Army and currently helps veterans out on Memorial Day, Veterans Day and holidays like this one.
“The Army was very good to me and I really appreciate what you guys are doing,” Doolittle said. “It’s our honor to help.”
The meals provided for the service members consisted of a turkey and non-traditional foods such as a pasta dinner, pancake batter and canned foods.
Mason said Zion United Church of Christ, a Partners in Care congregation located in Baltimore, contributed all of the food provided.
Mason also said food and toys would be provided during the Christmas holiday as well. service members who are in need of assistance can contact the MDNG’s Chaplain Office to learn how to sign up or refer a Soldier or Airman.
Eligible service members are also able to receive donated gifts cards, from Partners in Care, for groceries.
“The gift cards are a thing we do continuously with Partners in Care,” Mason said. “Soldiers having hard times or just need groceries for their family can fill out a request form and we’ll provide them with a $50 a gift card.”
Partners in Care is a faith-based program started by Col. William S. Lee, Maryland National Guard Joint Force Headquarters chaplain, and was initiated to extend support to all referred service members and their families.
| Date Taken: | 11.24.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 11.25.2014 18:43 |
| Story ID: | 148850 |
| Location: | BALTIMORE, MD, US |
| Web Views: | 41 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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