FORT KNOX, KY -- V Corps Soldiers conducted a ruck march to deliver toys to a local American Red Cross to serve the Fort Knox community during the holiday season, Dec. 2.
The ruck march was a way for V Corps to spread cheer by giving back to the Fort Knox community and help families in need during the holiday season.
“This (Toy Drive) was more about giving back to the service members who aren’t able to provide toys for their families,” said Cpl. Ashanti Bracey, a religious support specialist from Virginia Beach, Virginia, who helped coordinate the event. “It really has a giving aspect to it, rather than it being a [mandatory] organized event.”
Even though the march was optional for V Corps, dozens of Soldiers placed their rucksacks on their backs and stepped out for the cause.
Pfc. Drew Everhart, a medic from the Corps’ Battalion Aid Station, from Greenville, Indiana, wanted to show support to the organization with his fellow V Corps Soldiers.
“I felt this would be a good chance for the V Corps Battalion aid station to show its support once again during the holiday season.” Said Pfc. Everhart.
Mandy Kirchgessner, a volunteer for Fort Knox’s Red Cross, has seen the impact donations make for the Red Cross and the families that benefit from the generosity of strangers.
“COVID-19, trying to find child care and spouses trying to find jobs to get back to work can be some of the challenging circumstances that families go through at this time,” said Kirchgessner. “Knowing that our organization can do something to offset the stress during the holidays and to provide families with positive memories and experiences that the community can participate in is pretty special.”
In addition to toys, Helping Hands, in partnership with the Red Cross, will also be providing food for families, E-6 and below, in need. The food bank is open Dec. 13, 15 and 17 between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. at Fort Knox’s Red Cross warehouse across from the post’s vaccination site. Service members or dependents must show an ID card to receive donations.
Fort Knox’s American Red Cross office is located at 1130 Fifth Ave. in the Fort Knox Service Center.
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