There’s no place like home.
But for a single soldier far from home on Thanksgiving or Christmas Day, being at the home of a family who has opened their doors and hearts to them would be the next-best thing.
The Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers program at Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield is looking to pair families and soldiers on both of the holidays under its adopt-a-soldier program.
The registration window for soldiers who want to participate and families willing to welcome them begins Oct. 4.
“We want these soldiers to be able to enjoy a family atmosphere and to get to know members of the community better,” said Staff Sgt. Phillip G. Phinisee, vice president of B.O.S.S. “We’d also like to give members of the community an opportunity to get to know our soldiers better and learn more about them and what they do.”
And that’s not to mention how much the soldiers appreciate good, home-cooked food served up along with family conversation and the fun of just hanging out.
“It was pretty awesome,” SPC. Rodney Sears said when describing the food served at the Pooler home where he and two other soldiers were guests of a school principal last Thanksgiving. Sears is a member of 226th QM BTN under the 87th CSSB/ 3SB.
While he loved the food, the “hanging out” part was tops for Sears. “The best part of the day was hanging out, getting to know someone and just having a good time.” He plans to participate in this year’s program.
Chris Dent, recreation delivery system coordinator and BOSS program manager, said church groups, civic or other organizations are welcome to host a soldier or soldiers for Thanksgiving or Christmas. “We will welcome everyone who wants to participate,” Dent said.
Staff Sgt. Brian Dove, with the 92nd Chemical Company, was a part of the group visiting the Pooler home of the school principal. A priest joined them for the dinner.
“We talked and enjoyed football. She cooked a huge meal,” Dove said of his hostess. “I can’t say what the best part of the day was for me, because the whole experience was very good,” he said.
The B.O.S.S. adopt-a-soldier effort to encourage families to welcome a soldier or soldiers into their homes for the holidays is not a part of the 3rd ID Adopt-A-Soldier program founded by Carol Megathlin of Savannah. The 3rd ID Adopt-A-Soldier program is a grass roots effort to connect directly with soldiers who are deployed in Iraq or Afghanistan.
Families or others in the community who would like to host a soldier or soldiers on Thanksgiving or Christmas Day can call 912-767-9917. Soldiers who want to take part also are asked to call that number.
Dent said B.O.S.S. will coordinate pairing families and other hosts with soldiers for one or both of the holidays.
The registration window for Thanksgiving is open until Nov. 4. The registration window for Christmas is open until Dec. 3.
But for a single soldier far from home on Thanksgiving or Christmas Day, being at the home of a family who has opened their doors and hearts to them would be the next-best thing.
The Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers program at Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield is looking to pair families and soldiers on both of the holidays under its adopt-a-soldier program.
The registration window for soldiers who want to participate and families willing to welcome them begins Oct. 4.
“We want these soldiers to be able to enjoy a family atmosphere and to get to know members of the community better,” said Staff Sgt. Phillip G. Phinisee, vice president of B.O.S.S. “We’d also like to give members of the community an opportunity to get to know our soldiers better and learn more about them and what they do.”
And that’s not to mention how much the soldiers appreciate good, home-cooked food served up along with family conversation and the fun of just hanging out.
“It was pretty awesome,” SPC. Rodney Sears said when describing the food served at the Pooler home where he and two other soldiers were guests of a school principal last Thanksgiving. Sears is a member of 226th QM BTN under the 87th CSSB/ 3SB.
While he loved the food, the “hanging out” part was tops for Sears. “The best part of the day was hanging out, getting to know someone and just having a good time.” He plans to participate in this year’s program.
Chris Dent, recreation delivery system coordinator and BOSS program manager, said church groups, civic or other organizations are welcome to host a soldier or soldiers for Thanksgiving or Christmas. “We will welcome everyone who wants to participate,” Dent said.
Staff Sgt. Brian Dove, with the 92nd Chemical Company, was a part of the group visiting the Pooler home of the school principal. A priest joined them for the dinner.
“We talked and enjoyed football. She cooked a huge meal,” Dove said of his hostess. “I can’t say what the best part of the day was for me, because the whole experience was very good,” he said.
The B.O.S.S. adopt-a-soldier effort to encourage families to welcome a soldier or soldiers into their homes for the holidays is not a part of the 3rd ID Adopt-A-Soldier program founded by Carol Megathlin of Savannah. The 3rd ID Adopt-A-Soldier program is a grass roots effort to connect directly with soldiers who are deployed in Iraq or Afghanistan.
Families or others in the community who would like to host a soldier or soldiers on Thanksgiving or Christmas Day can call 912-767-9917. Soldiers who want to take part also are asked to call that number.
Dent said B.O.S.S. will coordinate pairing families and other hosts with soldiers for one or both of the holidays.
The registration window for Thanksgiving is open until Nov. 4. The registration window for Christmas is open until Dec. 3.
