FORT WAINWRIGHT, Alaska - While many Soldiers spend their free time socializing and enjoying the recreational opportunities that Alaska offers, the members of the Fort Wainwright Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers program have chosen to give back to their community through public service and recently received the Golden Heart Award for the work they have done.
"The BOSS group is always more than willing to help," said Adrian Kohrt, Fairbanks program director of Big Brothers, Big Sisters. BBBS nominated the group for the award.
"Not only do they volunteer for this agency, but they have done other service projects for the Boys and Girls Club, Animal Shelter, American Legion, Red Cross, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Armed Services YMCA, and the Fairbanks Rescue Mission," she said. "Last year the BOSS group volunteered over 4,400 hours to the Fairbanks community."
BOSS started volunteering their time with BBBS in 2009, Kohrt said. "They assist BBBS in providing fun, no-cost activities for the participants in our program, with raising funds at Bowl for Kids Sake and volunteering their services to assist in the summer picnic and the annual Christmas party."
BOSS has also hosted the monthly match event for BBBS during the months of January, February and March for the last two years. "The only thing BBBS staff does is coordinate with the group on the date and location, send out emails inviting Bigs and Littles and send staff members to chaperone the activities," Kohrt said. "The BOSS group does the rest."
Besides organizing the January, February, and March match activities, the BOSS group participates in other BBBS events as well. In April 2010, they volunteered to assist with the Bowl for Kids Sake event. In addition, they formed a bowling team and raised funds for BBBS. In June 2010 the BOSS group attended the annual summer picnic helping with whatever tasks needed to be done and interacting with the children as well. During the 2010 Christmas party BOSS intermingled with the Bigs, Littles and their families assisting with arts and crafts, selling raffle tickets and helping with cleanup afterwards.
"It has made it a lot of fun for everybody," said Lori Wilson, BBBS development director. "Especially our Littles, because you know the military - especially the boys - our military, they hero-worship a little bit. It is really a nice opportunity for them to interact with the Soldiers."
At the holiday party, BOSS volunteers taught the kids to break-dance. "The things that they are able to get these kids to do, to participate in, it is amazing," she said.
"These guys were break-dancing and teaching the kids how to break-dance. The next thing I know I look out there and there is a circle of people. Each person is taking a turn going in the center trying a move," Wilson said. "Watching those 10-, 11-, 12-year-old boys who are usually 'don't look at me' go out there and try some break-dance move and get cheered for just trying. Some of these kids - I know them, they are really shy. It was so cool. And that's the sort of stuff these guys and gals are able to get these kids to do while they are volunteering. It builds their confidence. It is just so fun, so cool"
"Soldiers are obviously good mentors for children," said Command Sgt. Maj. Todd Wentland, Fort Wainwright Garrison command sergeant major. "You have a little bit maturity, a little bit more discipline. Kids, when they see a person in uniform recognize that and respect that for the most part."
"They continue to be really involved with us," Wilson said. "If we need anything, they pretty much are there to help in any way."
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