Photo By Sgt. Javier Amador | Cpl. Kevin Silva, a medic with Company C, 710th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade...... read more read more
Subscribe
FORT DRUM, N.Y. - A soldier and her unit’s first sergeant launched a program called Project Care Oct. 3 at Fort Drum that encourages all of their brigade’s deploying soldiers to donate their unwanted items to charity as they clear their housing in preparation for deployment rather than to discard them.
The idea for the project came from Spc. Reeti Bhalla, an automated logistics specialist with the Headquarters and Headquarters Company of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Infantry Division.
“Spc. Bhalla noticed that people around her in the barracks were preparing to deploy and in that process, they were getting rid of items they didn’t want or need anymore,” said 1st Sgt. Chad E. Vangorder, of the Headquarters and Headquarters Company of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Infantry Division. “She saw this as an opportunity and came up with the idea to have a collection point where soldiers could bring items they were getting rid of and give them to organizations that can share those items with others that may need them.”
Bhalla was further convinced that she had to pursue her idea when she received a comforter from one of the soldiers who was packing up her room. She noticed the serviceable condition of the comforter as well as all of the items other soldiers were discarding and was reminded of a similar experience during her last deployment
“During my last deployment, I saw a lot of people throwing out good stuff as we were getting ready to come back,” said Bhalla, ”and I got to thinking that I really want to be able to collect all these things to give them to people that could really use them.”
After being told about the idea by Bhalla, Vangorder provided his support for the idea by facilitating the acquisition of a collection point for the donated items as well as sharing his considerable organizational know-how. He explained exactly how the program works.
“Spc. Bhalla has identified a couple of organizations that would be willing to accept our donated items,” said Vangorder. “There are flyers posted around the brigade areas to let soldiers know the location of the collection point and when they can drop off their items. Once we finish the drive, we will bring the items to the identified organizations.”
Bhalla has long had a deeply-entrenched certitude regarding sustainability, for which she credits her grandmother. She was born and raised in Jalandhar, India, a state that lies along the border with Pakistan. She recalled the poverty, readily apparent in the streets and the shared sense of frugality in the people who almost instinctively hung on to items until every last bit of usefulness has been extracted, with practically nothing going to waste.
“As they say, charity begins at home,” said Bhalla. “My grandmother didn’t believe in waste so if she didn’t need something, she would give it to someone who did.”
The strong sense of frugality, which Bhalla recalled being raised with, grew into a passion for sustainable living practices, inspiring her to study the subject in college.
“I feel that wasting things and not doing everything we can to conserve our resources is wrong,” said Bhalla, “so I try to do everything I can to help conserve resources.”
Vangorder also feels strongly about doing everything possible to conserve resources while helping people in need and hopes Project Care will send a message not just to the soldiers of his brigade, but to all soldiers in general.
“There are so many items we get rid of every day that are in perfectly good shape just because we want to upgrade, change a look, got bored with something or just never used once you got it,” said Vangorder. “We could save a significant amount of money by passing things on to others and most importantly, help someone who may not have the means to get these things.”
Project Care is expected to end sometime around the third week in November, just as the Spartan Brigade deploys to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. However, both Vangorder and Bhalla would like to see the project grow.
“Right now, this is a program that involves just our brigade,” said Vangorder. “If every deploying unit in the Army had a similar program, we could help a tremendous amount of people.”
Once the drive is completed, the items will be shipped to the Urban Mission in Watertown, N.Y.
Vangorder, who is originally from Utica, N.Y., the program is about more than just supporting a local charity. He sees it as a way to strengthen the deep bond between Fort Drum and the local community.
“As a resident of Jefferson County for almost 11 years, I’ve watched this community bend over backwards in its support of Fort Drum and its soldiers,” said Vangorder. “I’m glad that we can do something to give back.”
| Date Taken: | 10.31.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 11.01.2013 16:52 |
| Story ID: | 116177 |
| Location: | FORT DRUM, NY, US |
| Hometown: | JALANDHAR, PB, IN |
| Hometown: | UTICA, NY, US |
| Web Views: | 270 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, 3rd Brigade Combat Team soldiers give back by recycling unwanted goods, by SGT Javier Amador, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
LEAVE A COMMENT