June 2008 - Gave donation to our local Soujourners to partner with them to provide items for over 1000 single soldiers returning from 15 month of deployment. This partnership supplied their barracks with sheets, pillowcases, blankets, a toiletry bag. These soldiers are returning to an empty barrack and unable to drive for 48 hours. We also stocked their refrigeration with basic items such as water, RC Cola and snacks.
Support over 200 soldiers returning from 15 month deployment. Supplied pizzas and drinks for waiting family members. Welcomed single soldiers.
December 2005 - The CV-Ft Benning AUSA Chapter provided sleep masks and travel pillows for approximately 230 deploying soldiers from the 14th Combat Support Hospital. Food was also provided for the families and soldiers prior to departure. Cost to the Chapter: approximately $1825.
November 2005 - 125 Soldiers from the 63rd Eng Co (CSE) departed on Sunday at 0830 for a year in Iraq. Members of the Chattahoochee Valley - Fort Benning Chapter were there to provide donuts, coffee, paperback books and exercise bands.
March 2005 - The chapter provided six-foot subs and 20 pizzas for 300 family members awaiting redeployment of Soldiers from OIF III.
January 2005 - Chapter volunteers distributed books, sleep masks, inflatable pillows, exercise bands, snacks and water to more than 3,500 troops boarding flights for deployment to Operation Iraqi Freedom.
November 2004 - The chapter donated and delivered equipment and hardware to the first of eight Yellow Ribbon Rooms, designed for the spouses of deploying Soldiers to help them maintain contact with OIF deploying Soldiers. Donated included four laptops, a refrigerator, microwave, TV/DVD/VCR, toys, etc.
36th Engineer Group: We supported deployment of first 80 soldiers with hand out of eye shades and sleep pillows. It was a big hit with the 40 of them on their third deployment.
November 2003 - The Chapter donated $5,000 as a major sponsor of the Parade of Heroes, which celebrated the contributions of the Ft. Benning soldiers in the War on Terrorism. More than 2,500 Ft. Benning troops, plus many local and school bands, JROTC units, civic organizations, and the 3rd Infantry Old Guard Drill Team, participated.
March 2003 - During the evening of March 4 and the early morning of March 5, our chapter met the 498th Aviation Company at Lawson Army Airfield during their deployment preparation. We provided all 136 members of the unit with fruit, doughnuts, and coffee. The chapter purchased the doughnuts and coffee...the commissary donated the fruit. This was the second time we have met a deploying unit.
The soldiers were very appreciative of this chapter activity. Nearly every soldier who picked something up said "thank you, this is great, we really appreciate you doing this." This is the first activity we have done in years that has caused commanders to contact us to see if we would do the same for them. We plan to continue to provide this service as long as we can continue to raise the money to cover the activity. Special thanks to Kim Akers, VP for Family Member Activities, for her hard work in setting this up.
On Saturday, March 13, Fort Benning Chapter supported the return of the 988th MP Company from Iraq. Members set up at the airfield about an hour prior to the arrival of the flight with "goodies" and coffee for the waiting family members. After the flight landed, the volunteers remained for another hour (during the HUGEX) with families and soldiers. The MP CSM gave everyone involved coins, and the commander plans to provide a plaque to the chapter at the next general membership meeting as thanks for this activity. Special thanks to First Vice President Steve Hesler and Vice President for Family Member Activities Kim Akers for their great support and hard work. All together the chapter provided support to the 136 soldiers who returned and about 300 family members who came from the local area and in some cases as far away as Chicago and Naples, Fla.