Fort Bliss Monitor

Bliss volunteer organization seeks to make difference

Fonda Bock
Public Affairs

FONDA BOCK

Two-year-old Noah Whitfield had questions for Congressman Silvester Reyes who was reading The Boy Who Loved Bananas to a group of children Saturday. Reyes was at Gem's Gems, a not for profit bookstore, to kick off their book drive. The store is working in connection with the Fort Bliss Volunteer Corp on collecting books to be distributed to El Paso schools Oct. 22.

The Fort Bliss Army Volunteer Corps is looking for a few good volunteers, coats and books. Well, maybe more than a few.

The organization kicked off a coat and book drive Monday with the goal of collecting at least 100 coats and an unlimited number of books geared toward first through sixth graders to be given away on “Make a Difference Day” Oct. 22.

Initiated in 1990, this national day is devoted to helping others by doing volunteer work in the community.
The coats will be distributed to the Lee and Beulah Moor Children’s Home and the Fort Bliss Junior Enlisted Family Center.

The Lee and Beulah Moor Children’s Home, located in central El Paso, houses youth from newborns to 18 years of age, whose parents cannot take care of them for one reason or another.

The books will be given to Gem’s Gems, a local not-for-profit bookstore, which supports literacy by providing reading and educational materials to children and their teachers. Gem’s Gems will distribute the books to El Paso schools.

Tephanie Hopper, Army Volunteer Corp coordinator, said the coat drive was a good project because “we have kids who need coats. And a lot of times, people don’t foresee El Paso as getting cold, but it can get cold, it snows here too. So before it gets cold, this is a great time to give coats to kids whose parents can’t afford coats.”

New or clean reusable garments can be dropped off through Oct. 14 at Army Community Service, the Bowling Alley, Main Post Child Development Center, Main Post School Age Services, Logan Child Development Center, Logan Heights School Age Services and the Sergeants Major Academy.

Books are being collected at ACS and William Beaumont Army Medical Center.

Hopper also needs some extra hands to help beautify Old Fort Bliss Oct. 22, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Volunteers will help plant fast growing shade trees, landscape, and assemble picnic tables.

The goal, according to Hopper, is to make the facility more welcoming to the public and provide an outdoor place for people to bring their lunch.

Also on Oct. 22, the Sergeants Major Academy will clean up the playground at the Lee and Beulah Moor Children’s Home.

Sgt. Maj. Deborah Trexler, who is heading up the cleanup effort, says right now the playground "just isn't an area that they can go out and enjoy themselves and play in. There are a lot of dangers out there and we're going to clean it up and make it a fun place for them."

Soldiers will pull the weeds, cut the grass, rid the area of plants that stick, build timber landscaping around the volleyball and swing and slide areas, lay down sand in the volleyball pit and a soft material under the swings that will provide a cushy landing.

To volunteer for the beautification project of Old Fort Bliss call 568-1132 or e-mail tephanie.hopper1@bliss. army. mil.



www.bliss.army.mil	Published for the Fort Bliss/El Paso, Texas Community	October 6, 2005

<map name="boxmap-b4"> <area shape="rect" coords="0, 589, 120, 600" href="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm/privacy-policy.html?o=1" > <area coords="0,0,10000,10000" href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=&creative=92501&camp=8117&link_code=dl1&path=subst/misc/amazon-cobrand-cc/v3/marketing-from-associates-step1.html/ref%3Db1_assoc_29" > </map>	Bliss volunteer organization seeks to make difference Fonda Bock Public Affairs FONDA BOCK Two-year-old Noah Whitfield had questions for Congressman Silvester Reyes who was reading The Boy Who Loved Bananas to a group of children Saturday. Reyes was at Gem's Gems, a not for profit bookstore, to kick off their book drive. The store is working in connection with the Fort Bliss Volunteer Corp on collecting books to be distributed to El Paso schools Oct. 22. The Fort Bliss Army Volunteer Corps is looking for a few good volunteers, coats and books. Well, maybe more than a few. The organization kicked off a coat and book drive Monday with the goal of collecting at least 100 coats and an unlimited number of books geared toward first through sixth graders to be given away on “Make a Difference Day” Oct. 22. Initiated in 1990, this national day is devoted to helping others by doing volunteer work in the community. The coats will be distributed to the Lee and Beulah Moor Children’s Home and the Fort Bliss Junior Enlisted Family Center. The Lee and Beulah Moor Children’s Home, located in central El Paso, houses youth from newborns to 18 years of age, whose parents cannot take care of them for one reason or another. The books will be given to Gem’s Gems, a local not-for-profit bookstore, which supports literacy by providing reading and educational materials to children and their teachers. Gem’s Gems will distribute the books to El Paso schools. Tephanie Hopper, Army Volunteer Corp coordinator, said the coat drive was a good project because “we have kids who need coats. And a lot of times, people don’t foresee El Paso as getting cold, but it can get cold, it snows here too. So before it gets cold, this is a great time to give coats to kids whose parents can’t afford coats.” New or clean reusable garments can be dropped off through Oct. 14 at Army Community Service, the Bowling Alley, Main Post Child Development Center, Main Post School Age Services, Logan Child Development Center, Logan Heights School Age Services and the Sergeants Major Academy. Books are being collected at ACS and William Beaumont Army Medical Center. Hopper also needs some extra hands to help beautify Old Fort Bliss Oct. 22, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Volunteers will help plant fast growing shade trees, landscape, and assemble picnic tables. The goal, according to Hopper, is to make the facility more welcoming to the public and provide an outdoor place for people to bring their lunch. Also on Oct. 22, the Sergeants Major Academy will clean up the playground at the Lee and Beulah Moor Children’s Home. Sgt. Maj. Deborah Trexler, who is heading up the cleanup effort, says right now the playground "just isn't an area that they can go out and enjoy themselves and play in. There are a lot of dangers out there and we're going to clean it up and make it a fun place for them." Soldiers will pull the weeds, cut the grass, rid the area of plants that stick, build timber landscaping around the volleyball and swing and slide areas, lay down sand in the volleyball pit and a soft material under the swings that will provide a cushy landing. To volunteer for the beautification project of Old Fort Bliss call 568-1132 or e-mail tephanie.hopper1@bliss. army. mil.