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One family needed new clothes for today’s memorial service at Fort Hood.
The Chaplain’s Fund Office stepped up right away. Another family needed diapers for a baby. The family shopped for them — for free — at the post’s commissary. Some relatives of those wounded or killed last week during a mass shooting were being housed at Fisher House, a home for military personnel and their families during a medical crisis."We’ve just been overwhelmed by the response of people who want to help," said a Fort Hood official named Nancy who declined to give her last name. "Hotels from the surrounding area, restaurants from the surrounding area — people even donated their Learjet from corporations. We have had an abundance" of help.U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Waco, co-chairman of the Army Caucus, said in a statement that the tragedy has deeply touched the nation and that people have responded."I am hopeful that the memorial service and the outpouring of support from all across our land will allow the loved ones of our fallen heroes to know that they will not be alone in the days, months and years ahead," he said.By all accounts, the Army is aggressively meeting the needs of families and extended relatives of the soldiers wounded or killed. The shooting killed 13 and injured more than two dozen. Fifteen remained hospitalized with gunshot wounds, and eight were in intensive care, The Associated Press reported Monday.J.P. DeMeritt, emergency services director for the Heart of Texas Area Chapter of the American Red Cross, said the military is covering all identified gaps for the families of the wounded or deceased."As far as we know, there are no unidentified gaps at this point," DeMeritt said. "As far as the civilian community, we are still kind of surveying to see if there are any unmet needs for mental health assistance, stress or anything of that nature. But as it stands right now, it appears those needs have been met as well."The Army is taking care of its own," DeMeritt said.Fort Hood Spc. Javonna Pittman said the Chaplain’s Fund can’t legally give a specific dollar amount to a certain family. However, an emergency relief fund called the Serving Our Soldiers Fund helps any soldier or family member with bills such as mortgage payments, food, electricity and water, car repairs and even tires. "We just do not give out cash," Pittman said.In addition to helping a family with clothing for the memorial service, the Chaplain’s Fund helped others with plane tickets to travel to Fort Hood. The fund can’t be used for a few things, such as cellphone bills, gas money, alcohol or tobacco products. While the fund also can’t be used to buy diapers or formula, families can be given gift certificates that can be used at the post commissary. "If the family is needing help, and they do contact our chaplains, we are helping the families . . . of the wounded and the dead," she said.
How to help How to donate to agencies at Fort Hood to help the soldiers and relatives affected by the shootings: Chaplain’s Fund OfficeBuilding 44, 761st Tank Battalion Ave. Fort Hood, TX 76544 Checks should be made payable to Chapel’s Tithes and Offerings Fund, with a note on the memo line stating "Nov. 5 Tragedy." Fisher HouseBuilding 36015 Fisher Lane Fort Hood, TX 76544 254-286-7927 or 254-286-7929 Killeen Red Cross208 W. Ave. A Killeen, TX 76541 254-200-4400 or www.waco.redcross.orgUSO Fort Hood Building 1871, 50th Street Fort Hood, TX 76544 254-768-2771 or www.uso.org
DARREN BARBEE, 817-390-7126
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