New Family Readiness Center opens its doors

By Ms. Joyce Costello (IMCOM)March 5, 2009

New SFRC
1 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Army Sgt. Chris Everett and Air Force Senior Airman Poirier hold the yellow ribbon as Rebecca Cade (left); Lt. Col. Steve Cade, U.S. Army Garrison Livorno commander; Brig. Gen. Belinda Pinckney, director of the Army Diversity Task Force; Lt.Col. Tamm... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Checking out new equipment
2 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Sgt. Felix Cereceres, 31st Munitions Squadron and his wife Zulma Cereceres try out the latest computer equipment located in the new Camp Darby Service member and Family Readiness Center in Italy. The new equipment will help families keep in touch wit... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Can't wait to play
3 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A young child decides to test out the new toys in the children's playroom in the new Camp Darby Servicemember and Family Readiness Center in Italy. The room has video monitoring and large windows so children can play while parents talk to their deplo... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Welcome home
4 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

LIVORNO, Italy - The Camp Darby Army Community Service's Service member and Family Readiness Center opened its doors on Feb. 27 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

"The SFRC has a Yellow Ribbon Room with four computers for e-mail, video-producing capability, web-cam capability, Family Lounge with TV and DVD, recliners for relaxation, a children's play room with all sorts of activities for the little ones, a training room, a kitchen, information and referral and a lot more," said Evelyn Watkins, Army Community Service Division Chief.

Brig. Gen. Belinda Pinckney, director of the Army Diversity Task Force, who participated in the ceremony, said this opening ceremony had particular importance to her.

"When the Secretary of the Army decided he wanted to one-stop shopping soldier readiness centers, I was pleased we were able to justify and commit funds to this cause," said Pinckney. "Seeing the fruit of my labor makes me proud and I know you all will enjoy and benefit from it."

As servicemembers and their families visited the new center, many like the Cereceres family were glad to have a place to keep in touch with their loved ones while deployed.

"I think this was a wonderful idea to help the service members and the families stay in touch when ones spouse is deployed," said Zulma Cereceres.

Surveying the new computer systems with the latest in video teleconference hardware, her husband, Air Force Staff. Sgt. Felix Cereceres added that "this really brings us into the new age of technology."

Additionally, the community took advantage of the opening ceremony to welcome home service members that had recently returned from their deployments.

"It is with great pleasure that we recognized and honor those that have placed their life in harm's way and it was very fitting that we were able to do that at the new SFRC," said U.S. Army Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. Felix Rodriguez.

Rodriguez added that the community should visit and utilize the many services and opportunities provided to help Families handle difficult situations during the service member's deployment and the SFRC offers a place to find support in addition to a place to hold meetings and training.