Friday, December 11, 2009

"Lifeliners" brings holiday joy to families


Teams up with Operation Homefront for toy giveaway
By Private 1st Class Shawn Denham
101st Sustainment Brigade

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. November 4 – The 101st Sustainment Brigade, 101st Airborne Division volunteered with Operation Homefront and Oak Grove, Kentucky, Wal-Mart to provide toys to children of deployed Soldiers.
About 40 soldiers volunteered to assist the project, and about 750 family members attended the event. The Soldiers handed out toys and maintained the displays, while spouses of deployed Soldiers selected from hundreds of name brand toys for their children.
The Fort Campbell chapter of Operation Homefront provides services to Soldiers and their families during deployment.
The group worked with Wal-Mart to plan the event to show support for the Soldiers while Operation Homefront coordinated the volunteers, said Tina Englen, chapter president of Operation Homefront
The event was a huge success, Englen said.“It was non-stop all day. Incredibly busy,” she said.
“Oak Grove Wal-Mart has been incredible. They supplied anything needed,” Englen said. “We didn't know how many volunteers we were getting,” said Englen, “We're volunteer heavy. Red Cross supplied volunteers too.”
This is the first time Operation Homefront has sponsored such an event. Englen said they hope to have more in the future.
Englen said Operation Homefront was thankful to the United Korean Church of Oak Grove, Kentucky, for donating their building for the event and to Oak Grove Wal-Mart for the donating of the toys. “It was definitely not possible without them,” she said.
Sergeant Ty M. Peasley and Specialist Jonathan C. Leroy, motor transportation for the 594th Rear Detachment, 101st Sustainment Brigade, 101st Airborne Division teamed up to hand out toys at the event.
“I'm here to help other people out, make sure they enjoy the holidays because I know how it is, being away from family members,” Leroy said, “I’d come back if another program was done,”
The turnout was good, Leroy said, with a steady stream of families coming through.
“It's nice knowing your family is being taken care of,” said Peasley,
“It's working out well,” Afreeca A. Blackwell, wife of a deployed Soldier said, “I think it’s cool. We don't really have the money so this helps out.”
The children would love the toys, she said. “It's lonely, and just the absence of your husband around the holidays makes it a difficult time of year.”
“This is telling them over there a big 'Thank you',” Peasley said, “Everyone taking care of each other. That’s what families do.”
Only a few toys were left over from the hundreds on display, she said, the remainder would be transported to Fort Campbell and donated to Soldiers on base.

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