WTVM.com and WTVM News Leader 9, Columbus, GA | United Way Wants Families To Adopt A Soldier For The Holidays
Basic training soldiers on post during Christmas at Fort Benning will have a place to go for the holiday. Many will be spending time with adoptive families.
Colin Martin opened his home last year to four soldiers at Fort Benning and encouraged the United Way to take on this project. He says it's an easy task for folks to do. "We are hoping folks will serve soldiers Christmas dinner that cannot go home," said Martin.
Martin's wife wants more folks to get involved to kick off what the United Way is calling, "Holiday for a Soldier." "You will only have the soldiers long enough for them to have lunch and have some down time doing fun things," said Elizabeth Martin.
United Way hopes this will lead soldiers to meeting an adoptive family that will develop new relationships. "This is a very big thing in a soldier's life to come off post and share Christmas with a family," said Cindy Cain, United Way.
Many families are already rushing to put their name on the list and one family they wants to extend their relationship with their adoptive soldiers' past the holidays. "My husband and I will write them if they are deployed over seas next year. We will also send care packages, so they will become like my adoptive children," said Judy Talley, Host Family.
Looking back last year, one family remembers how they made a difference. "I let them call home and just seeing them get excited to talk to family without a time limit brought tears to my eyes," said Martin.
The United Way hopes this is the beginning of an annual program. They expect some 50 soldiers will need a place to spend Christmas. So if you would like to open up your home. You can call United Way of Columbus at 706-327-3255.
