314th CSSB FRG holds ‘packing party’

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Chanelcherie DeMello | Nancy Fiorello, a member of the Active Republican Women’s club of Las Vegas compose thoughts and prayer notes to be added to deployed Soldiers care packages during the 314th CSSB ‘packing party’ at St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church in Las Vegas, May 30. Family and Friends were afforded the opportunity to build care packages from a variety of donated items, including hygiene products, games, snacks, books, magazines and thank you cards.  

LAS VEGAS, NV, UNITED STATES

05.30.2017

Story by Sgt. 1st Class Chanelcherie DeMello 

311th Expeditionary Sustainment Command   

LAS VEGAS – Family and Friends of the 314th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion (CSSB) gathered at St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church in Las Vegas, May 30, to prepare care packages for 314th CSSB Soldiers currently deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.

The ‘packing party’ hosted by the 314th CSSB Family Readiness Group included the support of local and national supporters like American West Development, Active Republican Women’s club of Las Vegas, Smith’s customer 1st team of Las Vegas, Home Service Plus, and members of St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church, and the Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society of Las Vegas.

Family and Friends were afforded the opportunity to build care packages from a variety of donated items, including hygiene products, games, snacks, books, magazines and thank you cards.

Events like this provide opportunity to foster community pride and family wellness, while promoting Soldier morale and unit esprit de corps.

“It’s about giving back to Soldiers and their Families,” said Lee Price, an active ARW member that was among the nine other ARW members that attended the ‘packing party’ to show support.

Recognizing how much Soldiers sacrifice when leaving their Families for deployment, Bernadette Anthony, president of the ARW club and an active member of the Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society of Las Vegas, said that supporting Soldiers is a personal endeavor for her and her colleagues.

“We come out to support those military sons and daughters that are protecting us, because we genuinely care,” she said. “These are sons and daughters from mothers like us, supporting them comes from deep within our hearts,” she added.

A special station was set up where the children could create and color their own thank you cards and personal notes to be added to their deployed Family member’s package.

“It’s a reminder to our loved ones serving away from home that they are a blessing to the U.S. Army, their Families, and their communities,” said Susan Donohue, 314th CSSB FRG leader, and the director of homeowner relations at AWD.

Susan said she felt like she was given a huge gift when her son, Cpt. Colin J. Donohue, 314th CSSB commander, asked her to be the unit’s FRG leader.

“There is no greater honor than being a parent of a child that steps up to protect their country and its people,” she said. “Coming from a military family it’s amazing how there are those who sacrifice so much to defend America and our way of life, and that is why it is so important to make sure Soldiers feel valuable and never forgotten.”

By the end of the ‘party’, Susan, and Sgt. Beth Allen, 314th CSSB family readiness liaison, counted 81 boxes, each box packed to accommodate two Soldiers.

Susan and Allen hopes that more individuals and communities would come together for causes that express appreciation for Soldiers and their sacrifices.

The deployed Soldiers of the 314th CSSB is scheduled to return from deployment later this year.

• Date Taken: 05.30.2017
• Date Posted: 06.14.2017 16:21
• Story ID: 237900
• Location: LAS VEGAS, NV, US