FORT CAMPBELL, Ky-Sixteen Soldiers with 4th Brigade Combat Team "Currahee", 101st Airborne Division, as part of the Currahee Volunteer Initiative, visited with and played various games with residents from the Tennessee Baptist Children's Home, Aug. 10, 2013, at Brentwood, Tenn.

"Soldiers came down from Fort Campbell, played with the kids: basketball, volleyball and tossed a football around," explains Martha Boland, a house parent at the children's' home. "The Soldiers talked to the kids and got to know them….just had a good time playing with them."

The mission of the children's home is to minister to children and families in crisis, states their website. The home provides aid--regardless of faith background--through TBCH residential care, counseling, and other programs.

"We went to meet and greet the residents there, children ranging mostly between the ages of 12 to 18, a few younger children as well," shares Chaplain (Capt.) Everett Zachary, the brigade rear detachment chaplain with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th BCT, 101st Abn. Div.

"It was an opportunity for us to meet the residents," continued Zachary. "Last month, the CVI had gone down on a work project but most the children were gone and this week allowed us to find out who the residents are, to meet Soldiers and ask us some questions."

Though for many of the Soldiers it was their first time volunteering with the CVI, they enjoyed their time shared.

"It was a good experience," said Pfc. Elizabeth Hodge, a paralegal representative with 1st Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th BCT, 101st Abn. Div. "These kids usually have gone through some tough things in the past and to be able to do something with them and make them happy, feels great."

"The kids always enjoy when people from the community come and spend time with them," shares Boland. "It lets them know that people care about them, and they get to hear about the life experiences of other people and learn from that."

"I was impressed with how excited and enthusiastic these young people were about meeting Soldiers," said Zachary. "They were open, very willing to connect, tell us their stories and they loved to hear our stories as well."

The 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, rear detachment's unit ministry team established the CVI as an outreach opportunity and personal developmental tool for Currahees.

"The whole purpose, overall, for the CVI is just to get Soldiers out there," says Zachary. "Sometimes it is work projects, other times it is just building relationships with folks outside of the Army."

"This is not just to give folks a feel good about Soldiers and what we do but to really work on the Army Value of Selfless Service by giving of ourselves for those around us for no other reason than to say "Hey, we are a part of the community too. We do what we do because we love you and love being part of this community.""