Soldiers getting holiday meal ready

Posted: Dec 29, 2009 9:14 AM by Matt Stafford
Updated: Dec 29, 2009 9:14 AM

Another holiday, another meal for the homeless in our area.
Fort Carson soldiers are once again working for the community this holiday season.

The mission at Fort Carson, prep work. The cooking has a military feel.

"Everybody's definitely got their own job," says Spc. Bobby Garrett. "I'm on ham, putting them in there, getting ready to get them going."

For your family's holiday meal, maybe one or two hams but at Fort Carson, they're prepping 4,500 meals for the homeless in Colorado Springs. Making that many meals takes a lot of ham.

"Everybody's working together and we're having a good time doing it," says Garrett.

Each soldier enjoys it for their own reasons.

"The numbers are staggering how many homeless are veterans of all branches of the military," explains Sfc. Leslie Pollacci.

Thats why so many soldiers, 45, volunteer their time.

"Fort Carson has been doing this for 20 years," says Pollacci. "That's been as long as I've been in the army."

Pollacci is participating for her 20th and last year.

"I'll start clearing to go on transitional leave and the suit will come off, but this will probably be something that I'll remember forever," Pollacci says. "When you have a passion for what you do, the years go by fast and you really enjoy it."

That feeling transfers to everyone else, like with Spc. Garrett, helping for his first Christmas.

"Definitely feels good, doing this for them and making sure they have a hot plate," says Garrett.

That will accomplish the mission on christmas.

All of the food being prepared at the Mountain Post was donated by the Salvation Army.