1-160th SOAR (A) feeds homeless, malnourished

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Gaelen Lowers | Shawna Spigner, administrator for Manna Café Miniseries, teaches the group how to create meals out of the bags of food the Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 160th Special Operation Aviation Regiment (Airborne), and volunteers from the community are about to hand out during the battalion’s “Ride to Serve” motorcycle ride, April 23, where Soldiers teamed up with a local volunteer organization, the Manna Café, and handed out fully cooked meals and raw fruits and vegetables to more than 100 families and members of the community in downtown Clarksville, Tenn.  

CLARKSVILLE, TN, UNITED STATES

04.23.2015

Story by Staff Sgt. Gaelen Lowers 

160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne)

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – It started with the vision of a small group of people to serve their community; to creatively and compassionately restore hope and dignity to the broken and poor. The mission: food, shelter and community—three of the most basic, but vital needs of every person.

“I love the story behind how Manna Café started doing what they do,” said Chaplain (Capt.) Peter Stone, battalion chaplain for the 1st Battalion, 160th Special Operation Aviation Regiment (Airborne). “Every Night Stalker knows we exist as servants to our nation, and every day I am struck by the incredible passion and dedication to serve others that defines Task Force 1-160th's very identity.”

Twelve members of Task Force 1-160th lived up to their unit’s reputation by participating in the battalion’s “Ride to Serve” event where Soldiers teamed up with a local volunteer organization, the Manna Café, April 23, and donated their time, energy and money through canned food goods.

“The purpose of the "Ride to Serve" Motorcycle mentor ride was to give our riders an opportunity to connect something they love, riding motorcycles, with an opportunity to serve others,” said Stone. “We were also able to use the event as an opportunity for our battalion’s senior motorcycle mentor, Sgt. 1st Class Timothy Smith, and several other senior riders to mentor new riders and ensure good riding habits.”

The dual purpose event started early in the day with the Night Stalkers bringing in canned goods to donate to Manna Café’s pantry, then checking each other’s bikes and equipment for the proper safety.

Before starting their route, Stone shared several key thoughts with the Soldiers:

“It's the little things that people do every day that add up to make a difference,” he told them. “No one can do all the work by their selves. Every little thing we do in service for others makes a difference, whether or not we ever see the results.”

He continued by telling them that they must refuse to grow cynical.

“Cynicism will erode dedication and perseverance, and undermines the effectiveness of people working in service together.”

By teaming up with Manna Café, the Soldiers handed out fully cooked meals and raw fruits and vegetables to more than 100 families and members of the community; ensuring no one left hungry.

“I hope that this experience will multiply through the lives of the Night Stalkers who participated and perhaps it will provide greater visibility to our community for the great things Manna Café is doing to serve our city,” said Stone.

• Date Taken: 04.23.2015
• Date Posted: 04.27.2015 14:03
• Story ID: 161387
• Location: CLARKSVILLE, TN, US