Photo By 1st Lt. Ashley Childress | Gift bags are staged in preparation of a Park and Presents event hosted by the 28th...... read more read more
FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. – Soldiers and Family Readiness Group (FRG) volunteers with the 28th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade (ECAB), Pennsylvania Army National Guard, partnered with Operation Homefront to host multiple Park and Presents events across the state from Dec. 8-10.
The drive-through events provided an opportunity for families of deployed 28th ECAB Soldiers to meet Santa Claus and receive stocking stuffers for the holidays.
Maj. Carlton Kinzer, rear detachment officer in charge, 28th ECAB, expressed his gratitude for the families that continue to support the 28th ECAB Soldiers.
“I know it is very challenging with having your loved one currently deployed, especially over the holidays,” said Kinzer. “Your sacrifice is not forgotten and we appreciate that.”
Operation Homefront received donations from various private companies and the 28th ECAB FRG volunteers collected the toys to be handed out.
“I would like to thank all of the FRGs,” said Kinzer. “I know that they put a lot of time and effort into this and this was a unique situation that we had to be creative to make this happen.”
Staff Sgt. Skylar Kneasel, rear detachment support, 28th ECAB, also spoke on the importance of the FRG volunteers.
“I think that they are owed an extreme thanks,” said Kneasel. “Because they put in a lot of time and effort into these kinds of events in connecting with the families.”
The event locations included:
- Dec. 8 – Johnstown
- Dec. 9 – Philadelphia
- Dec. 10 – Fort Indiantown Gap
“We did have to jump through some hoops to get some of the different events to still happen based on COVID restrictions right now,” said Kneasel. “But ultimately we wanted to make it go through, that way the families had a little bit of holiday cheer.”
Park and Presents was created with COVID risk mitigation in mind to protect everyone involved. The safety procedures included:
- FRG volunteers pre-packaged the gift bags.
- Events were held outside and drive through only.
- Family members asked to remain in vehicles.
- Soldiers and volunteers all wore masks.
Kinzer elaborated on the importance of supporting the families during a deployment.
“The families are part of the bigger Army family and we need to keep them involved whenever we can,” said Kinzer. “We are here to support you in anything that we can do to help you out.”
The 28th ECAB is currently deployed to the Middle East assisting the U.S. Central Command’s mission of increasing regional security and stability in support of U.S. interests.
| Date Taken: | 12.10.2020 |
| Date Posted: | 12.15.2020 15:53 |
| Story ID: | 384838 |
| Location: | ANNVILLE, PA, US |
| Web Views: | 69 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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