Members of the Environmental Management Division present the Alcohol and Substance Abuse Prevention Prpgram a Buddy Bench at Fort Knox, Kentucky May 17, 2024. The bench was placed in front of the Suicide Prevention Program Coordinator's office to help in their mission to spread awareness.

Members of the Environmental Management Division present the Alcohol and Substance Abuse Prevention Prpgram a Buddy Bench at Fort Knox, Kentucky May 17, 2024. The bench was placed in front of the Suicide Prevention Program Coordinator's office to help in their mission to spread awareness.

Members of the Environmental Management Division present the Alcohol and Substance Abuse Prevention Prpgram a Buddy Bench at Fort Knox, Kentucky May 17, 2024. The bench was placed in front of the Suicide Prevention Program Coordinator's office to help in their mission to spread awareness.

Members of the Environmental Management Division present the Alcohol and Substance Abuse Prevention Prpgram a Buddy Bench at Fort Knox, Kentucky May 17, 2024. The bench was placed in front of the Suicide Prevention Program Coordinator's office to help in their mission to spread awareness.

FORT KNOX, Ky. — Thanks to a steady intake of number two, four and five plastics­­ on the installation, the post’s Environmental Management Division’s Buddy Bench Program was able to collaborate with the Fort Knox Directorate of Human Resources’ Army Substance Abuse Prevention Program.

Officials from EMD and the Garrison Command Team presented the ASAP program with a special Buddy Bench, near the Suicide Prevention Program office on May 17. The bench’s location was chosen because it gives two certified employee assistance professionals direct line of sight from their office windows.

According to EMD officials, placing the bench near the SPP and EAPs will provide a visible area for people for people to sit who may require quick access to valuable resources during difficult times in their lives.

“The concept is simple. If someone’s feeling lonely, sad or struggling emotionally, they can sit on the bench,” said Suicide Prevention Program Coordinator Dawn Lankford. “Others who notice someone sitting there can approach them and strike up a conversation and offer support all while providing an opportunity for people to connect and show kindness to one another.”

Members of the Environmental Management Division present the Alcohol and Substance Abuse Prevention Prpgram a Buddy Bench at Fort Knox, Kentucky May 17, 2024. The bench was placed in front of the Suicide Prevention Program Coordinator's office to help in their mission to spread awareness.

EMD will be following this expansion with an additional bench placement at the installation Post Office to ‘stimulate the livelihood of Soldiers, civilians and the community’ by providing a safe space for individuals to rest, relax and socialize.

Editor’s Note: To participate in the program, you can take your collected plastics to the Fort Knox Recycle Center located at BLDG 2962 on Frazier Road.

For more information on the program, you can call: 502-624-1929/502-624-3598/502-624-5026/502-624-7300, or email usarmy.knox.id-training.mbx.dpw-emd-info@army.mil