Fort Carson Soldier Cook Thanksgiving Dinner for Families in Need.

Photo By Spc. Matthew Connor | Culinary soldiers stationed at Fort Carson, are storing turkeys into the freezer at the Fort Carson, Culinary Institute Nov 20, 2023. Fort Carson soldiers are working with local charity partners to help feed families in need this thanksgiving.  

FORT CARSON, CO, UNITED STATES

11.22.2023

Story by Spc. Matthew Connor 

4th Infantry Division Sustainment Brigade

FORT CARSON, Co.-- For the last six days Soldiers in the culinary profession have been working shifts, around the clock, to prepare several thousand pounds of food for families in need this Thanksgiving. All of this with the help of local charity partners is how Fort Carson is giving back to the local Pikes Peak community.

For a mission this big, it has been a massive undertaking of logistics, planning and man hours to help families in need, spearheaded by teammates of the 4th Division Sustainment Brigade

“We had started planning about a month ago, and this last week is when we solidified the plan, we received all of subsistence for the meal itself and then the scheduling and things of that nature,” said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Frank Peterson, a culinary technician with the 4th DSB and the officer in charge of the community Thanksgiving meal.

Culinary specialists from across Fort Carson came together to achieve this mission. The soldiers cooked over 3000 Thanksgiving meals for those in need in Colorado Springs. The meal will include the traditional turkey, green beans, mashed potatoes and stuffing. In the process over 500 half-turkeys and 75 whole turkeys alone. With the amount of food prepared, this has been one of the largest food and or charity missions that Peterson has taken part in.

The week encompassed multiple long days since delivery of the food just. Preparing the turkey and saving the sides as the last items that need to be completed. Once the food preparation is completed the day of Thanksgiving, the charity partners will pick up the food and serve it to the local communities at their off-site facilities.

Volunteers came from a mix of units all across Fort Carson. For some soldiers this is their first-time taking part in the opportunity to serve the community. Others who have volunteered before sees this as a chance to connect with the region.

“It’s long nights, long days but at the end of the day we get to see the local community enjoy the fruits of our labor.” Pfc. Pedro Cortez, a Culinary Specialist with 4-9 Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, volunteering for the Thanksgiving Meal “I believe it’s important for the local post (Fort Carson) and the local community to have a strong relationship together. Something that ties us together, that brings everyone together especially for this family centric holiday.”

All of the Soldiers are grateful that they have the chance to help support the local community that has given Fort Carson so much.

“It’s nice to give something to those that are less than fortunate because I've been in their shoes before so it's nice to help out.” Spc. Fabian Marshall, a culinary Specialist assigned to the 115th Quartermaster Company, 68th Division Sustainment Support Battalion, 4th Division Support Sustainment Brigade.



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• Date Taken: 11.22.2023
• Date Posted: 11.28.2023 16:02
• Story ID: 458480
• Location: FORT CARSON, CO, US