FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- Soldiers assigned to 7th Engineer Battalion, 10th Sustainment Brigade, 10th Mountain Division (LI), conducted a road march Dec. 5, carrying toys to be dropped off at the USO Fort Drum.
The effort was to support the Mountain of Toys program, which helps ensure that some children of military Families have additional assistance this holiday season.
"We wanted to do a fun ruck march and promote the Christmas spirit," said Capt. Ryan Dunbar, commander of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 7th Engineer Battalion.
The drive started mid-November, when Soldiers of the battalion were asked on a voluntary basis to donate toys for children in the post community.
"It's a terrible thing if kids don't have toys to receive at Christmas, and it's not the fault of anyone. People just have tough situations," Dunbar said.
"We wanted to build help build unit cohesion within our unit and help out our fellow Soldiers and their Families who may have needed some assistance this holiday season," he added.
The battalion was able to collect more than 200 toys for Fort Drum children.
"The turnout was overwhelming with all the toys that the Soldiers donated," Dunbar said.
"On behalf of the Sergeants Major Association of Fort Drum, we are very grateful to the engineers and the donations that they made today," said 1st Sgt. Crecencia Jeter, of the U.S. Army Garrison Fort Drum.
"There will be some happy kids this Christmas, and these Soldiers have gone above and beyond the call of duty," Jeter said.
"This is what soldiering is all about -- taking care of fellow Soldiers and their Families," she added.
"We just want to be able to give back to the community that quite frankly has given a lot to us, especially during our recent to deployment to Afghanistan," Dunbar said.
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