Church supports troops despite Katrina

Photo By Sgt. Judith Dacosta | 1st Sgt. Thomas E. Kelly, 3rd Corps Support Command, hands a care package sent from Little Bethel Baptist church to a Soldier. Little Bethel Baptist Church is located in a small town just north of New Orleans and was hit in 2005 by Hurricane Katrina, the deadliest United States hurricane since 1928.  

03.02.2006

Courtesy Story

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Still recovering from devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina, Little Bethel Baptist Church sent hundreds of care packages to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Corps Support Command, Feb. 10.

The church, located in Amite, La., lost about 65 percent of its members to relocation after being hit by Hurricane Katrina, according to Little Bethel Baptist Church Pastor Frank Davis.

"My grandmother is active in the church and she is constantly doing something to help someone else," said 1st Sgt. Thomas E. Kelly, HHC, 3rd COSCOM first sergeant.

The church was providing aid to Hurricane Katrina victims and decided to send care packages to the troops as well.

"I called the project "love boxes" and wanted them to arrive by Valentine's Day as a gift of our love and the love of Christ for them," Davis said in an e-mail.

Care packages containing various items such as books, gum, chocolate and canned sausage, were individually packed for the troops. The church got together and purchased the goodies themselves, Kelly said.

Each package was fairly heavy, he added.

"I don't want to put a price on blessings, but each one of these packages must have cost about $20 apiece just to mail."

There were more than enough care packages for everyone in the unit to get one, said Kelly.

Upon receiving the gifts, Kelly and his platoon sergeants coordinated an event for Soldiers to relax and receive these care packages Feb. 10.

"We want to give Soldiers a break," said Sgt. 1st Class Betty H. Franklin, HHC, 3rd COSCOM platoon sergeant, who plans to continue offering morale events to Soldiers in the months to come.

"We want them to come out and enjoy themselves."

Kelly and his platoon sergeants handed the remaining care packages to Iraqis and Soldiers recovering in the Balad hospital and to anyone they came in contact with, according to Kelly. "I know they appreciate it," he added.

"I want to thank the church for their support," said Kelly. Their selfless service despite their own hardships is admirable, he added.

• Date Taken: 03.02.2006
• Date Posted: 03.02.2006 09:02
• Story ID: 5565