Soldiers from the 704th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, help Abrams Elementary School students find new coats Nov. 4, 2016, at the school located on post. (Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Tre Marris)
By Sgt. 1st Class Tre Marris
2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office, 4th Infantry Division
The winter season in Colorado can be bitterly cold at times and often requires extra layers of clothing in order to keep warm. Unfortunately, not everyone can afford a good 704th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division.
Faculty from Abrams Elementary School on Fort Carson teamed up with Soldiers from the 704th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Nov. 4, 2016, to outfit school children with jackets.
Cpl. Kelly Nguyen, signal support systems specialist, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 704th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, helps second-grader Madelayna Canez try on a coat Nov. 4, 2016, at Abrams Elementary School. (Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Tre Marris)
“This was a fantastic opportunity for the school as a whole,” said Debbie Jones, art teacher and school liaison with Koats for Kids, a local organization that donated the coats to the school. “To be a part of this is humbling, knowing how many people in the community are willing to give coats and help the kids.”
As part of the program, the students drew pictures of themselves doing something they enjoyed and, in turn, the drawings were given to donors as a reward for their donation.
Being able to help the children proved to be more than just a volunteer opportunity for one Soldier.
“One of the kids I was helping out humbled me because he said he had never had a new coat before,” said Cpl. Kelly Nguyen, signal support systems specialist, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 704th BSB. “It was nice knowing it was doing something for a specific person rather than an organization.”
Spc. Christopher Karssen, radar repair specialist, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 704th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, helps second-grader Fernando Pedrego try on a coat Nov. 4, 2016, at Abrams Elementary School. (Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Tre Marris)
Jones said it is always nice to see Soldiers come to the school and give of their time.
“Seeing the looks on the kids’ faces when they have one or both parents in the military, and then seeing the Soldier there helping them, it was amazing,” Jones said. “Having the number of Soldiers show up that did was just overwhelming. We are fortunate that we are on Fort Carson and have that kind of access to them to come out and help.”
Nguyen said she is going to continue volunteering and would encourage others to join the volunteer effort.
“Take every opportunity the Army gives you,” Nguyen said. “It gives you a chance to do something outside of the Army and get involved with the community.”