FORTT STEWART, Ga. - Soldiers assigned to the 3rd Sustainment Brigade, Third Infantry Division are spending the month of September donating gently used clothing, toys, books and electronics for the unit's community service project, Operation: Providers Comfort, to help less fortunate Families in the local community.
"All the Soldiers really wanted to help," said Amy Smith, the Family Readiness Support Assistant for the 87th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 3rd Sustainment Brigade, Third Infantry Division. "We had great support from the Soldiers; our box was always full of donations."
The brigade made its first delivery Sept. 23 when the 260th Quartermaster Battalion donated 15 bags of items to the Savannah City Mission. The Brigade Headquarters delivered another 30 bags to the Georgia Department of Human Services, Division of Family and Children's Services Sept. 26, with another 16 bags delivered Sept. 28 to the Savannah City Mission. Another delivery is slated to take place at the end of the month due to the overwhelming support of the program.
"I think it's great," said Smith. "The Families in the community really appreciate it and it allows us to give back to the community that supports us."
Many of the Soldiers who participated in the drive said they themselves had been through hard times, and this drove them to help a Family who may be facing the same struggles they once faced.
"They did a great job," said Smith. "The drive was definitely a success and we'll be able to get a lot more donations in the future as well."
"This is the first time we've received any donations from the Soldiers on Fort Stewart since I've been here," said Debbie Bennett, the director for the Liberty and Long Counties DFCS. "This was a pleasant surprise; the amount donated was astonishing and it seemed like the bags just kept coming out of the truck."
The DFCS plans on using the toys donated to replenish their visitation room as well as make Christmas packages for their foster families. The clothing will also be distributed to the foster families and Child Protective Services workers who are temporarily housing children waiting to be adopted.
"I have a limited knowledge of military life, but since I've been here, I have been so impressed with the command teams at every level on Fort Stewart," said Bennett. "It's amazing to see how they are always involved in the lives of their Soldiers and Families as well as the surrounding community."
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