When Army engineers usher in the holidays, there's usually something memorable about their approach.
The 1st Engineer Brigade got together Friday to have a Thanksgiving holiday run and food drive.
The engineers constructed nearly 2,000 cans of donated food for a local food pantry into the likeness of the engineer castle on Gammon Field.
"The food drive concept was held to help out the local community," said 1st Sgt. Jeremy Compton, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Engr. Bde. "At the same time, we wanted to get the brigade commander's holiday message out to our Soldiers."
The idea came from his previous assignment at Fort Hood, Texas, where Compton said his battalion collected goods for an off-post food pantry.
"It was good esprit de corps then, and the brigade thought it would be a good idea to do it here at Fort Leonard Wood, as well," he added.
Heather Frabel, Good Samaritan of the Ozarks Emergency Resource Center pantry manager, who accepted the brigade's food donation, said her organization distributes about 13,000 items from the shelves each month.
"We have a setup like a grocery store, so we offer client choice," Frabel said. "Last year, there were 700,000 pounds of food given away."
"We encourage people to donate to the pantry because situations change," she added. "You just never know when you or a neighbor might need a little extra help. We like to be prepared to help those in need."
The brigade's commander is impressed with the support of the local community, and is enthusiastic for the brigade to be able to lend a hand.
"We are really connected to the community," said Col. Dale Snider, 1st Engineer Brigade commander. "The brigade and battalions have ties with various schools and organizations in the greater Fort Leonard Wood community, and we like to give back year round."
"Now that the holidays are upon us, there are several organizations that do food drives to support those in need," Snider added. "So we had the opportunity to give back and have some fun."
The brigade trains seven days a week, nearly year round, but on Thanksgiving Day we will take a short pause," according to Snider. "We will join together for a traditional meal at our two dining facilities, and give thanks for our many blessings.
"For the Army's birthday in June, the Sergeant Major of the Army challenged us to 'earn our cake,'" Snider said. "Today, at our brigade run, we look at this as an opportunity to earn our turkey."
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