FORT BENNING, Ga., (Nov. 20, 2013) -- With the holidays approaching, a group of Soldiers from D Company, 2nd Battalion, 47th Infantry Regiment, took time out of their schedules last week to help needy Families throughout the Chattahoochee Valley.

The group, mostly drill sergeants, spent time Thursday at Feeding the Valley's warehouse on Coca-Cola Boulevard in Columbus packing boxes of canned and dry goods to be distributed to Columbus-area residents.

Capt. Sean Williams, company commander, said it was important for Soldiers to be able to show their support for the civilian community.

"The community has given so much to us in terms of support during the last 12 years in combat," he said. "With being a basic training company commander, we get to see the nation's best and brightest come in. So, we wanted to give the community something because they give us their sons and daughters willingly, and we send them on to become Soldiers, men and women."

Williams said his Soldiers were excited about the opportunity to help affect a large number of Families in a positive way.

"We've actually packed more than we thought we'd be able to," he said. "They understood when I briefed them that they would have the opportunity to help a large number of Families, so they were excited."

Staff Sgt. James Greene said many of the drill sergeants could relate to the Families in need.

"When you have so much and so much is provided for you, you have to take a moment to think about the people who don't have as much," Greene said. "We have a little bit of extra time, and everybody here understands how important it is to give back to people who come from hard places because a lot of us come from hard places ourselves."