In an outpouring of compassion, 3rd ID soldiers assigned to Fort Stewart and their families emptied their pockets to donate to the American Red Cross for Haiti Relief.
A check for $10,481 was presented to Alphonsa Oliver, senior station manager for the American Red Cross at Fort Stewart, by garrison commander Col. Kevin Milton, Command Sgt. Maj. James Ervin, senior installation chaplain Col. Warren Kirby and chaplain resource manager Maj. Albert Gherich Friday, in front of Fort Stewart’s main chapel.
Milton said about 500 people who attended religious services on Jan. 29 at Fort Stewart donated to a designated offering collected by army chaplains to assist victims of the earthquake in Haiti. Army chaplains normally schedule 10 special offerings each year, he said.
Oliver said the donation indicates the generous nature of the Fort Stewart community and its 3rd ID soldiers.
The Red Cross official said the International Red Cross has so far raised more than $284 million for Haiti Relief and has helped 1.3 million people in Haiti, to date.
“The Red Cross will stay there (in Haiti) until the last dollar is spent,” Oliver said.
Kirby said the chief of Army chaplains “put out the call” for the special offering in late January. The call was heard by soldiers and their families at installations across the country and overseas, he said.
“A total of $531,000 (Army-wide) was raised,” Kirby said. “And this represents just the religious (military) community.”
Kirby said the amount raised is amazing considering it was raised “in just one hour on one day.”
In addition, soldiers assigned to Fort Stewart who are currently deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan also contributed, the senior chaplain said.
“This is from the pockets of soldiers who gave while they’re giving to another fight,” Kirby said.
A check for $10,481 was presented to Alphonsa Oliver, senior station manager for the American Red Cross at Fort Stewart, by garrison commander Col. Kevin Milton, Command Sgt. Maj. James Ervin, senior installation chaplain Col. Warren Kirby and chaplain resource manager Maj. Albert Gherich Friday, in front of Fort Stewart’s main chapel.
Milton said about 500 people who attended religious services on Jan. 29 at Fort Stewart donated to a designated offering collected by army chaplains to assist victims of the earthquake in Haiti. Army chaplains normally schedule 10 special offerings each year, he said.
Oliver said the donation indicates the generous nature of the Fort Stewart community and its 3rd ID soldiers.
The Red Cross official said the International Red Cross has so far raised more than $284 million for Haiti Relief and has helped 1.3 million people in Haiti, to date.
“The Red Cross will stay there (in Haiti) until the last dollar is spent,” Oliver said.
Kirby said the chief of Army chaplains “put out the call” for the special offering in late January. The call was heard by soldiers and their families at installations across the country and overseas, he said.
“A total of $531,000 (Army-wide) was raised,” Kirby said. “And this represents just the religious (military) community.”
Kirby said the amount raised is amazing considering it was raised “in just one hour on one day.”
In addition, soldiers assigned to Fort Stewart who are currently deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan also contributed, the senior chaplain said.
“This is from the pockets of soldiers who gave while they’re giving to another fight,” Kirby said.