Twitter
Facebook
U.S. Army Garrison Kaiserslautern has found a way during the holidays – tried and true for the past 12 years – to thank Soldiers and their families for their service throughout the year.
Through community involvement in the Army Community Service’s Toy Outreach Program and Chaplain’s Office’s Operation Helping Hands the garrison has made it possible to give back.
Both programs show the garrison’s support to Soldiers and their families and are in direct line with the Army Family Covenant in improving their quality of life, said Selinda Torbert, the garrison’s ACS outreach coordinator, who is co-organizing this year’s Toy Outreach Program.
“The gift of giving is priceless,” she said. “We ask the community to continue to support this program and help us to make a child’s holidays a little brighter.”
The garrison’s Toy Outreach Program, sometimes referred to as the ACS Holiday Toy Drive, counts on the KMC to donate gift cards or new toys for nominated children ages infant to 11 years old.
Donations of $20 Army and Air Force Exchange Service gift certificates or movie cards are recommended for children ages 12 to 18 years old.
“This program makes it possible for children in our military families to receive a special gift from members of the community,” said Arabella Quick, the garrison’s Army Emergency Relief specialist, who is also co-organizing this year’s toy drive.
Toy collection boxes were distributed in October and will remain in place until
Dec. 15 at high-traffic areas in the Kaiserslautern Military Community Center, the 21st Theater Sustainment Command on Panzer Kaserne, Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Vogelweh Commissary, Pulaski Shoppette and the garrison’s headquarters and ACS on Pulaski Barracks. Community members can also donate toys during the annual American Forces Network – Kaiserslautern’s Spirit Drive from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 4 at the KMCC. More than 500 toys were donated during last year’s Spirit Drive, Mrs. Torbert said.
Nominated families are referred to ACS by units’ first sergeants and sergeants major. Last year, 793 children from 393 Army families received more than 1,600 toys, Mrs. Torbert said. Seventy-five AAFES gift cards were also handed out to teens last year.
So far, about 900 children from 454 families have been referred, Ms. Quick added.
“My kids always look forward to (the holiday toy drive) because they know they are going to get this additional toy from the community,” said Sgt. Gladys Crum, who was shopping through the donated toys for her five children in 2004.
Pfc. Terry Barker moved with his family from Northern Michigan to the KMC right before the holidays in 2004. He had three children, all under the age of 10.
“Just getting over here has been kind of hard, we spent all the money we had to move here, and this really helps out, especially during Christmas,” said Private Barker, while looking for toys.
Distribution to the nominated families will be done by unit appointment Dec. 15 and 16 at the Kaiserslautern-Landstuhl Spouses’ Association Office, Bldg. 2923 on Pulaski Barracks. A make-up day is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 17 at the KLSA office.
While toys are being distributed, these nominated families will also be receiving commissary food vouchers for holiday dinners from Operation Helping Hands, sponsored by the garrison Chaplain’s Office.
“Operation Helping Hands is a program in which we see the community caring for the community,” said Chaplain (Capt.) Benjamin Hines, the garrison’s deputy chaplain. “This program is 100 percent resourced by the generous giving hearts of the fine people of our community.”
Chaplain Hines said OHH takes in more than $10,000 each year and provides the families of junior enlisted Soldiers and families in need with a $25 commissary food voucher.
“These vouchers are good only at the Vogelweh Commissary and are gifts to bless the families with a good holiday meal,” he said.
Last year, the program gave more than 450 vouchers, and this year, it is anticipated that close to 500 vouchers will be given to families, Chaplain Hines said. He added that the bigger the fund, the more vouchers are available for giving.
For more information about Toy Outreach, call Mrs. Torbert at 493-4062 or 0631-3406-4062. For information about OHH, call the garrison Chaplain’s Office at 493-4098 or 0631-3406-4098.
