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Guard unit holds drive to raise food for Cheer Basket
The canned food drive, organized by Bravo Troop 2-116 Armored Recon Squadron of the Idaho National Guards Mountain Home Armory, last Sunday morning was a resounding success, organizers said.
Bravo troop joined with the Cheer Basket of Mountain Home, a charity that provides Christmas meals to families in the community that are in need. Since 2002, the Cheer Basket has been run in a joint effort by the Chamber of Commerce, the Lions Club and the Rotary Club.
Since 2002, the Cheer Basket has fed an average of 300 needy families each year.
The event offered free rides aboard two Bradleys and a M-113 (personnel carrier). The ride was a one mile off-road trek around the facility. The vehicles were driven by three different crews, the Bradley crews were,
• SSgt James Story, Specialist Chase Vassar, Specialist Emanuel White and Specialist Michael Litz.
• Sgt. Shaun Hill, Private Robert Meksch and Specialist Robert Dunkel.
The crew behind the M-113 were Corporal Justin Long, Corporal James Widner, PFC Robert Doty, and PFC Jimmie Lea.
Specialist Emanuel White described the fun and combat aspect of riding the Bradleys. "When you start up, you tell the driver to get on it," although he admitted, "at first, I didn't trust these things, but then I was like, 'yeah let's do this'."
City council candidates Russ Anderson and Geoff Schroeder (retired MSgt.) were in attendance offering their support,
"It's great, it's real fun, this is a great deal for the community," said Anderson after his Bradley ride.
"This is an excellent way to help the community and give the people a chance to see these guys out here and experience what they do," said Schroeder, who also watched his children get the chance to ride on a Bradley.
Approximately 80 residents lent a hand to the cause. The donations filled four shopping carts and two boxes. The people were in enthused after their rides.
"Pretty fun, I guess if you get the right driver, it's pretty entertaining," said Nicole Meksch.
"It was pretty sweet, I enjoyed it, it was fun," said Sam Fulkerson.
"It was fun, I liked the Bradley, it's really fast," said 10-year-old Victoria Olson, who, due to two bags of donations, received two rides, one on the Bradley and one on an M-113.
"It was fun, the best part was getting to lift myself up during the ride," said 7-year-old Vaughn Schroeder.
"It was really fun, the best part was when the Bradley went off road," said 11-year-old Shantay Schroeder.
Following the event, the Guard members praised the high turnout,
"It wasn't a bad turnout. I hope to have a bigger turnout next year," said Doty.
"The Guard is grateful to the community and the people who donated. It was an overwhelming show of support, and I love how the community is really willing to help when asked," said SSgt Darin J. Henecke, recruiting and retention NCO for the Guard unit.