Indianapolis, USO team up to put wheels on Atterbury

Courtesy Photo | Local on-air radio personalities thank one local family for donating a used bike during a recent bike drive sponsored by the United Service Organizations of Indianapolis. Thanks to more than 160 volunteers of the USO of Indiana and publicity driven by local media outlets, more than 60 bikes were donated from local families around the Indianapolis metropolitan area for Soldiers.  

UNITED STATES

10.16.2007

Courtesy Story

Camp Atterbury Indiana

By Sgt. 1 Class Mark Bell
Camp Atterbury Public Affairs

GREENWOOD, Ind. – They brought them in all shapes, sizes and colors to an Indianapolis suburb to help Soldiers at Camp Atterbury who are deploying to and returning from missions across the globe.

Thanks to more than 160 volunteers of the United Service Organizations of Indiana and publicity driven by local media outlets, more than 60 bikes were donated from local families around the Indianapolis metropolitan area for Soldiers.

According to Master Sgt. Roy Zenor, Soldiers have a three-to-five-week waiting period for a bike at the morale, welfare and recreation center on post.

"Currently, we have about 60 bikes and have a waiting period of three to five weeks for a Soldier to get a bike while he is here at Atterbury," said Zenor. "Our goal is to be able to loan a bike to anyone who wants a bike without a long wait."

Heading the efforts for the USO is Robin Barton, the USO of Indiana President and Brownsburg, Ind., resident.

Although no direct tie to the military, Barton said being a part of the USO has brought more satisfaction into her life then she could ever imagine.

"I don't want to be in the military, but this is my way to give back to Soldiers putting their lives on the line everyday," she said. "We are trying to help the Soldiers out by providing them a means of transportation while on the base."

Barton and the USO of Indiana met with Camp Atterbury staff in May about helping Soldiers in Indiana.

"They gave us a wish list and the bikes were one of the things on the list," she said. "It's one thing that Soldiers want and need there. We want to provide things the Army can't provide and bikes are one of those things in need."

Barton said people looking to help a great effort should look south to their neighbors in Camp Atterbury and the USO.

"As we are starting out here, we are doing a big fundraising effort for both us and Camp Atterbury and getting our names out there," she said. "There are a lot of people that really don't know we are here in Indiana."

Barton said helping Soldiers is what USO is all about.

"They are out there protecting our freedom and we can't take that for granted and whatever Soldiers need here in Indiana we want to be able to provide them," she said.

22-year Army veteran and USO volunteer, Dwight Dorsey, said these bikes will allow Soldiers to get out of their barracks and onto the streets and paths on post.

"We have young Soldiers preparing to go overseas into hostile areas, and we want to give them the opportunity to relax as much as possible while at Camp Atterbury," said Dorsey. "We know they have little free time here, but the free time they do get we want them to be able enjoy their limited time as much as possible."

Zenor said thousands of Soldiers leave and return through Camp Atterbury each year during scheduled mobilizations and these bikes help Soldiers get around post.

"Since there are no personally-owned vehicles allowed on post for mobilizing and demobilizing Soldiers, a lot of the Soldiers sign out bikes from the MWR office and that's how they get around post a lot of the time."

Zenor said Camp Atterbury officials get numerous requests from the Indianapolis community asking how they can help Soldiers.

"USO is big part of that, and our relationship with the USO has changed immensely over the last year with the day-to-day involvement with military support," he said. "It gives them a little feeling of home because we have volunteers, which most of whom have children in the service or they were in the service themselves and know what it's like to be away from home for long periods of time.

According to Zenor, all the money raised by USO bike donation drive to purchase new bikes and items such as drinks and snacks at the USO facility at Camp Atterbury.

"It's a place for them to come in, sit down and relax and watch television, play pool or ping pong and talk to someone not in a green suit," Zenor said about the new USO building on Camp Atterbury.

• Date Taken: 10.16.2007
• Date Posted: 10.16.2007 09:50
• Story ID: 13035
• Location: US