Hood Soldiers team with local food center to deliver holiday meals to local Families

Story and photos by Staff Sgt. David House, 85^th Civil Affairs Brigade Public Affairs

KILLEEN, Texas -- With the Thanksgiving holiday upon us giving thanks means more than just carving into a turkey while waiting for the big game to start on television. For many, it is a way to give back to the community and that was what happened during a turkey dinner giveaway held at the Killeen Food Care Center, Nov. 20.

   “Thanksgiving baskets for Soldiers-- it doesn’t get much better than that,” said Ann Farris, co-executive director of the Killeen Food Care Center. “We do it every year and something that members of the local community feel strongly about and help make it happen.”

   The center has been conducting the Thanksgiving food drive for Soldiers since 2007 and has evolved into a much larger community effort.

   “Today we will be handing out about 400 baskets for civilian families and 1,200 for the Soldier Families,” Farris said. “Everything that is being handed out is a result of hard work that actually started this summer.”

    Soldiers, Civilians and local retailers all pitched in to provide for the community effort that took place at the Killeen Food Care Center.

   “What you see here today is a joint effort between the Fort Hood Garrison Chapel and the Officers Spouses Club that helped raise the money to buy the turkeys from a local vendor at a discounted rate. The rest of the food is from community donations to the center,” said Farris.

   Each dinner container consists of a 15 pound turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce and much of the traditional items that one would think of for a Thanksgiving dinner. With a volunteer force of more than 50 Soldiers, vehicles lined up, packed up with food and sent on their way in a fast and efficient manner.

    “My section oversees the command financial specialist program that helps each unit to select Soldiers to receive the donation,” said Sgt. 1^st Class Cassandra Snow, NCOIC for the Fort Hood financial readiness branch. “This is my fourth year to be involved with this event and I think it is a great way to help give back and to make sure Soldiers are able to have a happy Thanksgiving dinner.”

    The Temple, Texas native is also in charge of the Soldiers that came out to help distribute the turkeys.

    “This is all about teamwork,” Snow said. “Having these Soldiers out here shows we are all about working as a team.  Loading up 1,200 boxes may seem like a lot but we make quick work of it.”

    The turkey basket giveaway is just one of many programs that the Killeen Food Care Center has developed. They will also be partnering with Celebration of Love/Soldiers of America Christmas Outreach along with Fort Hood for a similar dinner program in December.

Sgt. 1^st Class Javier Cruzcolon, 120^th Infantry Brigade, 1^st Army Div. West, helps load up a Thanksgiving dinner box.  Cruzcolon was one of many volunteers that helped distribute 1200 Thanksgiving meals to Fort Hood Soldiers and their Families during a distribution event held at the Killeen Food Care Center Nov. 20. (Photo by Staff Sgt. David House, 85^th Civil Affairs Brigade Public Affairs)

Staff Sgt. Orgeeba Harvin, 1/62 Air Defense Artillery, helps load turkeys in awaiting vehicles. The South Carolina native was one of many volunteers that helped distribute 1,200 Thanksgiving meals to Fort Hood Soldiers and their Families during a distribution event held at the Killeen Food Care Center Nov. 20. (Photo by Staff Sgt. David House, 85^th Civil Affairs Brigade Public Affairs)

Soldiers from Fort Hood helped distribute 1,200 Thanksgiving dinner meals to Soldiers and their Families during a distribution event held at the Killeen Food Care Center Nov. 20. (Photo by Staff Sgt. David House, 85^th Civil Affairs Brigade Public Affairs)

Soldiers from Fort Hood help load up Thanksgiving dinners into the back of a van during a distribution event held at the Killeen Food Care Center Nov. 20. The event, in its fifth year, provides a free Thanksgiving dinner complete with a 15 pound turkey to Families in the Fort Hood and Killeen community. (Photo by Staff Sgt. David House, 85^th Civil Affairs Brigade Public Affairs)