Photo By Sgt. Nicholas Holmes | Soldiers with Company C, 9th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat...... read more read more
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FORT STEWART, Ga. - Loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage. These Army Values set the standard for all Soldiers. In basic training, Soldiers learn the core values and are taught to apply them on and off duty.
In January 2015, Spc. John Smarr, multichannel transmission systems operator with Company C, 9th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division began volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House Charities, RMHC, of Savannah, Georgia.
“I wanted to have a positive presence in my community, we need more people to volunteer,” said Smarr, who is stationed at nearby Fort Stewart, Georgia. “Our community will only be as great as we make it.”
The charity is an independent nonprofit organization whose mission is to create and support programs that directly improve the health and well-being of children fighting illnesses and their families. The charity allows families to access specialized medical treatment in areas away from their homes by providing a place to stay at little or no cost.
“We serve families of critically-ill or injured children under the age of 22 years old,” said Katie Cleland, programs coordinator at RMHC of the Coastal Empire. “We have a 13-bedroom house that provides a comfortable living space for the families of children reserving treatment at the local hospitals in the Coastal Empire.”
A few days each month, Smarr and a team of eight to 10 volunteers participate in the charity’s Adopt-a-Meal program.
“The Adopt-a-Meal program is a big way that our community is getting involved,” Cleland said. “Participants prepare an approved meal of their choice, serving as many as 13 families that could be staying in the facility at any given time.”
Once volunteers commit to a meal, they are responsible for all aspects of the meal and use the facility’s kitchen to prepare the meal.
“There are different positions and responsibilities assigned to each member of the team,” Smarr explained. “Planning the meal, purchasing the food, cleaning, organizing the volunteers are all areas we are responsible for handling.”
Many of the families are facing challenging times in their lives, according to Smarr.
“It is difficult to see the children fighting such serious illnesses,” Smarr explained. “They are kids that are fighting so hard against their illnesses, while continuing to be so optimistic.”
Smarr has volunteered with other programs such as food banks in his hometown of McKeesport, Pennsylvania; however, claims none have been as rewarding as RMHC.
“This type of volunteering is much different from ones I have been involved with before,” Smarr explained. “I really enjoy seeing the direct impact I am having on the families I have come in contact with. It has been a great privilege to be part of.”
Smarr’s commitment to selfless service has been noticed among his leaderships and peers within his unit.
“Spc. Smarr is always publicizing volunteer opportunities for Soldiers to participate in,” said Sgt. Christopher Mefford, his former platoon sergeant in Company C. “He started a successful uniform drive that benefited Soldiers affected by the tornadoes in February, as well as a food drive around Thanksgiving that was able to fill a local food kitchen.”
“He is one of the most helpful Soldiers in the company,” said Spc. Mayra Planes, signal support systems specialists with Company C. and fellow platoon member. “He is always encouraging us to help each other and to get involved with community as well.”
Smarr extended his efforts to the RMHC charity by initiating a pop tab drive within 9th BEB. RMHC has been collecting soda tabs since 2002 and raises thousands of dollars each year, according to the organization’s website. The pop tab program provides extra revenue that helps make up for the donations that Families cannot make during their stay at RMCH.
In the future, Smarr would like to develop an organization that supports youth in his local community. He hopes the organization will provide mentorship to young adults and assist in planning for life after high school.
“When I left high school and went to college, I do not feel I was prepared for what it meant to be independent,” Smarr said. “I really believe it is important to empower our youth to perform well in life after leaving the safety of the school systems.”
His passion of helping others as well as inspiring peers to do the same will remain a priority to him, according to Smarr.
“I will always feel it is important for everyone to volunteer and give back to their communities,” Smarr said. “Volunteering takes you out of your reality and allows us to experience something different. I feel this helps develop a strong character.”
| Date Taken: | 03.21.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 03.21.2016 19:03 |
| Story ID: | 193088 |
| Location: | FORT STEWART, GA, US |
| Hometown: | MCKEESPORT, PA, US |
| Web Views: | 121 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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