FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. (Army News Service, Oct. 29, 2014) -- For many
Soldiers, fulfilling the call of duty is sometimes not enough. Sgt. 1st
Class Christopher Roberts, a food service sergeant with 3rd Battalion,
5th Special Forces Group, uses his Army skills to make his community
better.
For a little over a year, Roberts has devoted the majority of his
off-duty time volunteering for the Boys and Girls Club of Hopkinsville
and Christian County, Kentucky.
"It started with my church a little over a year ago, when I first got
involved with the Boys and Girls Club," he said. "They said, 'We know
you like to cook and like to take care of kids. Do you want to help
out?' and I said, 'Sure,' and the first time I went, I fell in love."
Roberts said it was easy for him to enjoy helping, because he was using a
tool the Army ingrained in him to better the lives of children in need.
"We have assisted the Boys and Girls Club to be able to feed children
who might not get an evening meal," said Mary Curlin, ministry
coordinator for All Nations House of Prayer and a volunteer with the
Boys and Girls Club of Hopkinsville and Christian County. "They were not
able to provide as many meals as they wanted to, when they first
started out."
To help the Boys and Girls Club provide enough meals, Roberts said, he
uses his own funds to buy what cannot be provided, because, it furthers
his passion for both helping and cooking.
"Cooking is my passion," he said. "It's my job, and it's nice to use
what the Army has taught me, especially when using it at the Boys and
Girls Club. There around 150 children who come here, and who can cook
for that many people? Not too many, and with me having to cook in bulk
all the time, [that] makes it that much easier."
It also makes it a lot easier to work with children when you have children of your own.
"He has young kids. He interacts well [with these children]. He is a
positive role model for the young men who come here; they look up to
him," Curlin said. "He has also taken on responsibilities of coaching in
the Bud Hudson Football League, where a lot of the children on his team
also come to the Boys and Girls Club."
COACHING FOOTBALL TOO
Coaching a team takes a good amount of effort, so to help with that,
Roberts turned to his fellow Soldiers for help. Pvt. Adrian Cortez, a
food service specialist with the 5th Special Forces Group, coaches with
Roberts.
"I started coaching with him because I love football and I love teaching
these kids football," Cortez said. "It helps make them better, and
makes me better for teaching them."
Roberts was nominated to accept his battalion's jersey, which will be
presented during a military appreciation observance at Austin State
University's football game, Nov. 8.
"Sgt. 1st Class Roberts has continually volunteered his time and energy,
despite long work hours running the dining facility, and has never
asked for anything in return," said 1st Sgt. Steven K. Toro, first
sergeant with the Battalion Support Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Special
Forces Group. "He has made a significant impact in the Hopkinsville
community and selflessly gives to underprivileged children in order to
provide them with hot meals."
Recognition is not the reason why he helps his community, Roberts said.
"My first sergeant said that it's because of all of the things that I do
in the community," he added. "He knows that I don't do it for the
glamour. I do it because I love it."
http://www.army.mil/article/137191/Soldier_chef_serves_goodwill_to_community/
By Sgt. Justin A. Moeller
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