FORT CARSON, Colo. -- More than 250 Fort Carson community members gathered at Iron Horse Park Oct. 28, 2017, to make a difference in their community.
While thousands of Americans were busy volunteering their time at similar events around the country, Fort Carson volunteers enjoyed a quick breakfast before scattering to a number of locations on post to put in some hard labor.
Despite an overcast sky and chilly temperatures, the volunteers cleared debris from irrigation ditches, raked leaves from the park's common areas and painted structures at the dog park.
Others took a short bus ride to the Iron Horse Sports Complex and the post housing areas where they painted curbs and parking lot stripes and cleared trash and debris from the surrounding landscape.
"It was a good day, a solid effort from our volunteers," said Joey Bautista, Fort Carson Army Volunteer Corps coordinator. "This is our 21st year of recognizing 'Make a Difference Day" and my 16th as the event coordinator. Once again, people came out to enhance areas that everyone enjoys on post."
1st Lts. Savneet Bajwa and Kaitlyn Baerwaldt joined Cpl. Vanessa Torres at the sports complex first, but had some energy left following projects there. So, they quickly moved over to the park where they found plenty of work.
"This is a great chance to meet people and make friends with Soldiers from other brigades," Baerwaldt said. "We heard about the effort through the Community Information Exchange, and we wanted to do our part."
A multitude of local clubs and organizations provided volunteers and services for the event, including Cub Scout troops and church groups, and the Filipino American Community of Southern Colorado and the Knights of Columbus, who cooked and served a lunch for volunteers. Local businesses and foundations also donated pizzas for the event.
U.S. Army Garrison Commander Col. Ronald P. Fitch Jr. welcomed volunteers in the morning and then kicked off the lunchtime activities after the effort was complete.
"This place looks completely different than it did this morning," Fitch said. "One of the best things about this community is that we can come together and keep Fort Carson the 'Best Hometown in the Army.'"
Learn more about the Community Information Exchange (CIE) at http://www.carson.army.mil/CIE.html.
Social Sharing