FORT KNOX, Ky. – More than 500 Soldiers from 19th Engineer Battalion rucked hundreds of toys to the Fort Knox Santa’s Workshop Dec. 1 to be donated for children in need.
Throughout the holiday season, units on post collect toys for the American Red Cross, which is focused on helping Soldiers’ Families who are facing hard times have a happy Christmas. Each unit then signs up for different days to deliver their toys by ruck march.
The 19th Eng. Soldiers gathered at the unit headquarters at 6:30 a.m. to start their hike to Santa’s Workshop. First Lt. Connor Jennings said even below freezing temperatures couldn’t keep the battalion from accomplishing their mission.
“As the only unit on the installation that kind of has the manpower to help out around post, we take a lot of ownership and we’re pretty driven to get involved,” said Jennings. “We have a plethora of Soldiers that benefit from programs like this, so we really enjoy getting out there and helping.”
Red Cross volunteer Angie Thomas said this year has been extremely successful, with twice as many rucks filled with toys as last holiday season.
“Santa’s Workshop is an all donation-based program,” said Thomas. “Our success is reliant on the generosity of the community, so we’re so excited with this show of support from our Fort Knox Soldiers and their Families.”
Thomas encouraged any Families wishing to still apply for Santa’s Workshop to reach out through the contact information on their Facebook page. She said thanks to the willingness of units like the 19th to ruck their donations over to the Workshop, they will be able to help many Fort Knox children have a wonderful Christmas.
“Not only did they brave the cold,” said Thomas, “they showed their unit pride and holiday spirit as they dropped off their toy donations.”
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Editor’s note: For more photos of the 19th Engineer Battalion Santa’s Workshop ruck march, visit the Fort Knox Flickr page.
Social Sharing