Soldier volunteers at orphanage for seven years

By Staff Sgt. Christina J. Turnipseed, Eighth Army Public AffairsJune 22, 2011

Soldier volunteers at orphanage for seven years
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

SEOUL - Staff Sgt. Bobby McKnight from the Eight Army Civil Affairs unit in South Korea has volunteered at the Namsanwon Orphanage here in Myeongdong for seven years.

“I’m a Christian and part of my belief is that following God requires love in every possible way,” said McKnight. “I’ve always loved kids.”

The Namsanwon Orphanage has 50 children ranging from a three- month-old to college age adults.

According to Namsanwon officials, the orphanage was started in the 1950s to care for the children of Korean soldiers and policemen killed during the Korean War.

Now the children come from parents who cannot take care of them and some of the children are rescued from abusive situations, said Namsanwon officials.

McKnight, an Army Reserve Soldier attached to the Eighth Army, said he started helping during Christmas 2004.

“At Christmas time, we came over to the orphanage with the Military Police unit that I was with, the 94th,” said McKnight. “I liked it and so I kept coming.”

McKnight said he started spending more time with the children teaching English and break dancing and also bringing supplies needed to take care of the children.

“When they have second hand markets, he brings things the children can use,” stated the Namsanwon officials.

McKnight has delivered school supplies, cribs, toiletries, clothing, mosquito nets and tools.

“Tools are very important,” said McKnight.

Soldiers from nearly all the Eighth Army units Yongsan Garrison, including KATUSAs and civilians have helped McKnight by donating supplies and volunteering their time.

The Eighth Army Civil Affairs, Eighth Army Public Affairs, the Reserves Advisors Office Forward Support Attachment, Mr. Keith Green, Mr. Robert Hisel, Sgt. 1st Class Freida Carter, the Civil Military Operations Center and the MPs are just a few McKnight named.

Immanuel Baptist Church in El Paso, Texas, sent backpacks, notebooks, toys and other items to the children of Namsanwon.

McKnight also accepts baby supplies, bibles and religious materials, famine products and cleaning supplies.

McKnight says he is currently trying to gain support to repair the foundation, which is cracking. He is also trying to get volunteers, materials and tools to renovate a storage building into rooms for babies because there is no place to put the cribs people donated.

McKnight said the supplies needed are, “All things that are required to build a foundatio ... Concrete, wood, tools, concrete bars, foundation items, reinforcement bars, labor, everything.”

Namsanwon officials would like to thank Eighth Army and the Yongsan Garrison community for their continued kindness and support.

After seven years of regularly helping at Namsanwon, McKnight credited his faith as his inspiration, “My biggest influence is Jesus Christ.”

Related Links:

Eighth Army Web site