“Lifeliners” spread Holiday cheer

Sustainment Brigade donate food clothing to area shelters
By Sergeant First Class Pete Mayes
101st Sustainment Brigade
FORT CAMPBELL, KY, December 20, 2009 – First Sergeant Danny Jones is a big advocate of getting Soldiers to volunteer their time and talents in the local community. While the opportunities here in Clarksville are limited, he believes in the making the most out of what is available.
So when a chance to spread some holiday cheer for the less fortunate presented itself, he did not hesitate to get his “Angry Dawgs” in on the action.
Soldiers from the 101st Brigade Troops Battalion (“Angry Dawgs”), joined fellow Soldiers from the 101st Sustainment Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, in collecting almost 3,000 canned goods and perishable items. They delivered the items to Loaves and Fishes, a homeless shelter for Clarksville’s less fortunate residents.
They also collected and donated more than 30 coats for children and adults to the Salvation Army at the company level, Jones said.
“We did this enormous food drive and it came out perfect for the holiday season,” Jones said. “We know there are going to be some needy people that needed those big mass meals, so we figured this would be a quick and inexpensive way for the Soldiers to give back.”
Staff Sergeant Kevin Burtnett, S-3 operations Non-Commissioned Officer for 101st Sustainment Brigade, and several Soldiers dropped off the items at the shelters.
“It’ll help out a large number of homeless and needy people to be fed. It’s just Soldiers doing what they can do to help the community,” he said.
Inexpensive indeed; each Soldier was asked to donate one canned food or perishable item for the food drive. And each item can go a long way to feeding those in need this holiday season, said one Loaves and Fishes official.
“(Loaves and Fishes) reaches deeper into the community than most people realize,” Assistant Food Supervisor John Carrothers said. “The soup kitchen feeds a lot of the indigents, but we also deliver a lot of food to the community. We feed a lot of people who otherwise would not have a place to eat.”
Carrothers said a sergeant from the brigade volunteered to help at the shelter, and asked if he could bring some more Soldiers on board. “I said by all means,” he said.
Everyone is welcome to volunteer at the shelter, Carrothers said, and every food donation is accepted. Loaves and Fishes, however, do not accept clothing items, he said.
Jones praised the unit NCO for their support in the food drive.
“They did this without any incentive for themselves. It was a just a desire to give back during this season,” he said. “That makes it so easy without having to twist anyone’s arm to get involved or give an explanation.”