Soldiers assigned to 2nd Infantry Division/ROK-U.S. Combined Division, wait in line to deliver charcoal to local homes for the charcoal briquette distribution, Dec. 5, 2019, Dongducheon, Republic of Korea. A total of 5,000 briquettes were delivered t...

Soldiers assigned to the 210th Field Artillery Brigade and the 6th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, both part of the 2nd Infantry Division/ROK-U.S. Combined Division pose for a group photo during the charcoal briquette...

Soldiers assigned to 2nd Infantry Division/ROK-U.S. Combined Division, work together to distribute charcoal briquettes to local families for the charcoal briquette distribution, Dec. 5, 2019, Dongducheon, Republic of Korea. The event was hosted by th...

Staff members from the Dongducheon Charcoal Bank, Dongducheon, smile for a photo before handing out gloves and aprons to service members for the charcoal briquette distribution, Dec. 5, 2019, Dongducheon, Republic of Korea. Soldiers volunteered to he...

CAMP CASEY, Republic of Korea - Soldiers from across U.S. Army Garrison Camp Casey came together to deliver 5,000 charcoal briquettes to neighbors outside the base December 5, Bosan-dong, Dongducheon.

The charcoal briquette distribution is an annual event for soldiers of Camp Casey to be involved and assist neighbors who are in need of a way to stay warm during the winter.

"It shows that the United States soldiers are volunteering to help out," said Sgt. Christopher Castner, a fire support specialist assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 210th Field Artillery Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division/ROK-U.S. Combined Division, and Gainesville, Florida, native. "It kind of helps us get good rapport with the local populace."

Castner volunteered to be the noncommissioned officer in charge for the event.

"I think it's a good opportunity for our soldiers to get out there and meet the locals," said Castner. "It gives them the opportunity to get out and get to know the culture a little bit more."

This is the seventh year the Gyeonggi Provincial Office and 210th FAB, 2ID/RUCD partnered to distribute charcoal to the locals. About 90 service members showed up to help deliver briquettes to 17 homes in Bosan-dong, Dongducheon.

"This is great - that the soldiers come out from their daily work, and we team up to help the people," said Maj. Michael Kim, the brigade chaplain for 210th and Riverside, California native. "To help the people in the Dongducheon City, where we live, not only did we provide our manpower, but we also donated money to buy more briquettes for this event.