FORT JACKSON, S.C. (Nov. 6, 2014) -- More than 150 commissary gift cards will be given to Fort Jackson Soldiers in need this holiday season thanks to the Fort Jackson Installation Chaplain Office.
"The intent of this program is to help needy families and Soldiers throughout the holiday season by giving them holiday gift cards that can be used at the commissary to purchase food for their families this Thanksgiving and Christmas," said Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Clyde Scott, deputy installation chaplain.
The Holiday Food Assistance Program, hosted by the Installation Chaplain Office, has purchased gift cards at $50 each to help Soldiers and their families who have been recognized as needing assistance by their chains of command.
"We have asked the chains of command to look for those families that have one income; (Soldiers) who have families of four or more children plus the parents; (Soldiers with) family emergency expenses, existing AER/Red Cross loans; and families receiving federal/state subsistence," Scott said.
Scott said the money comes from the chapel tithes and offering fund, not from appropriated funds.
"This money literally comes from the offerings that are taken up during chapel services here on post," he said. "The congregations are the ones who are really paying for this. They actually vote on what they want to spend the money on in the Chaplaincy Program Budget Advisory Committee and they have made this program a priority."
Scott said that the chaplains office always hears from the on-post chapel congregations that they would like to help families of Soldiers who are in need.
"Last year, we gave out nearly $12,000 worth of gift cards, and we hope to give out about the same this year as well," Scott said.
He explained that it is too early to tell how many gift cards will be given out this year because the list of names of those Soldiers and families in need has not come in yet. He said he wants to remind each brigade's chain of command that the deadline for helping Soldiers and families with this program is Friday for Thanksgiving and Dec. 8 for Christmas.
"We are not looking to turn families away if they are not on the submitted list. We are willing to help those in who are in need, but the list will just better help us know how to prepare," Scott said.
Scott said if anyone would like to make a contribution to the program, the Religious Support Office will accept monetary donations during regular duty hours Monday through Friday. The check should be made out to the Fort Jackson CTOF and include a note on the memo line stating that the money is for the Chapel Community Holiday Food Assistance Program.
"These families need to know that we care," Scott said. "We want to help them, especially during the holiday season. This whole season is one of giving and caring -- we don't want any family to be out there in need because the Army is one big family."
For information on the Holiday Food Assistance Program, call the Installation Chaplain Office at 803-751-6318.
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