FORT STEWART, Ga. - Stacks of backpacks, notepads, journals and bookmarks are arranged in a dress-right-dress fashion across the tables inside the battalion classroom. Behind the tables sit rows of large cardboard boxes overflowing with additional back-to-school supplies.
Christy K. Eakin, the Family Readiness Group Advisor for 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team, Third Infantry Division, pulls a few items out of one of the boxes and sets them at the end of the table. The assembly line is complete.
On July 25 Eakin was assisted by five volunteers in filling more than 300 backpacks with free school supplies and trinkets that were donated by the Army Community Service program, Operation Military Kids, and other organizations. The 2nd Bat., 7th Inf. Regt. FRG leaders distributed the backpacks " and an additional 200 backpacks filled by volunteers July 18 " to the school-aged children of Soldier’s assigned to the battalion prior to the start of the school year.
Eakin said the battalion completed the project not only to show appreciation for military children, but to also serve as an FRG outreach to the battalion’s Families.
“It’s our way of giving back to our Family,” Eakin said. “You just need that sense of Family so that people can be independent, yet know where to turn to if they have a question.”
Eakin said she hopes that the backpacks will help the military youths feel appreciated for the sacrifices they make as being a part of military Families. She said it’s easier for adults than for children to understand the military lifestyle of moving and deployments.
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