Photo By 1st Lt. Barry Stevenson | Command Sgt. Maj. Levi Maynard places groceries in a shopping cart at the Celebration...... read more read more
FORT HOOD, Texas - Volunteers from Fort Hood assembled for the Celebration of Love event at Hood Army Airfield to give the gift of giving to service members in need this holiday season.
Celebration of Love started in 2003 as a one-day holiday event for approximately 500 families. Through generous donations from individuals and local businesses the program has grown to help over 200 families per week and also supports Fort Hood’s Army Community Service food pantry. The program helps veterans and military families stationed at Fort Hood by providing turkeys, canned goods, and toys.
Over a hundred volunteers came from the local community, but many also came from within our ranks. Soldiers from the 1st Cavalry Division and the 310th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) donated their time and smiling faces to help their battle buddies.
Cpl. Aaron Alejandro, a fire control repairer with the 1st Cavalry Division, was excited to assist this year.
“It’s a great honor to do this,” Alejandro said. “I like helping families during the holidays, because it’s not easy to get stuff that you need for the holidays and it’s an honor to give back to the people that need it.”
The spirit of giving extended across all ranks this weekend as Soldiers from every level were on hand to express their appreciation for fellow soldiers. Col. Matthew Elledge, Fort Hood Garrison commander, was helping bag turkeys alongside sergeants and privates as well as the leadership from the 310th SC (E) helped fill grocery carts at the last stop before families exited the building. Command Sgt. Maj. Levi Maynard was more than happy to give back.
“I felt good about participating in the Celebration of Love,” Maynard said. "It reminded me of where I came from and allowed me to give back to those Soldiers who are currently in a place I am very familiar with ... I was once a young under privileged Soldier.”
For more information about the celebration and how to make donations, visit www.celebrationoflove.org.
| Date Taken: | 12.06.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 12.11.2014 15:39 |
| Story ID: | 150098 |
| Location: | FORT HOOD, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 44 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Fort Hood Celebration of Love helps military families in need, by 1LT Barry Stevenson, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
