THE VOLUNTEERS
Our volunteers are friends, family, and people we met at events. We have all types of backgrounds and Nationality's. We are here to serve our community.
What made you choose to be part of this organization?
This organization is family. All of the members, volunteers, and backers have the same civic mentality.” It takes a village.” I didn’t make it this far in life all on my own. So, I don’t mind helping others—especially children.
Because they inherit their situation and have no means to change it, besides, if I’m going to volunteer, there’s no better organization than this one and these people.
What does volunteering mean to you?
Volunteering means Children smiling and good times with good people.
What is the military experience that you can share about yourself?
I joined the Army in 1981 as a wire-guided missile systems repairer. Once my active-duty tour was over, I joined the US Army Reserves Quartermaster Corps. I retired from the military in 2011, but I don’t miss it much because I get any comradery and purpose I might have missed I still get from Brooklyn Vets 4 Kids. It’s Priceless.
This organization is family. All of the members, volunteers, and backers have the same civic mentality.” It takes a village.” I didn’t make it this far in life all on my own. So, I don’t mind helping others—especially children.
Because they inherit their situation and have no means to change it, besides, if I’m going to volunteer, there’s no better organization than this one and these people.
What does volunteering mean to you?
Volunteering means Children smiling and good times with good people.
What is the military experience that you can share about yourself?
I joined the Army in 1981 as a wire-guided missile systems repairer. Once my active-duty tour was over, I joined the US Army Reserves Quartermaster Corps. I retired from the military in 2011, but I don’t miss it much because I get any comradery and purpose I might have missed I still get from Brooklyn Vets 4 Kids. It’s Priceless.
Julius Nelson
What made you choose to be part of this organization?
When the officers first ask me to be part, I was filling in for a member who had been deployed. I initially committed to assisting with the administration, including meeting structure and social media, for 6 months. It evolved quickly into I can and want to do more. BrooklynVets4kids' mission and passion for the cause of helping children smile is the best feeling. Every little time and effort I can do to further the reason is the best feeling. It is rewarding to know you can change the children's course and provide them with great memories and a reminder their community does love them. This provides parents and caregivers support that people do care and want to help.
What does volunteering mean to you?
Volunteering is not about me but the impact on the person receiving the volunteer experience results. When you open your mind and time and volunteer, you give the energy of hope and possibilities. It is the best feeling of adding to something small that results in output to greatness. This world progresses when we each volunteer. Finding time to support and give, whether in person or virtual, is important; why not be a part of volunteering. It means the knowledge, gifts, and experiences I have; I also get to share and be part of inspiring someone. When I was young, our children's choir director spent a lot of time with us even though she had her own family and young children. I asked her one day why she did it. Her answer stuck with me: "When you do things out of the kindness of your heart, it never feels like work, but it feels like your feeding your soul." Volunteering is feeding my soul.
What is the military experience that you can share about yourself?
I joined the military in 1997 at 28 years old, was married and a mother. I wanted to pay my student loans off and go on with my life. I got more than a bonus to pay off student loans; I got a family. It becomes a bond, experience, and lessons that can not be taken away. I would not trade it for the world. The experiences, training, deployment allowed me to push myself out of my comfort zone and develop teamwork and leadership skills that are not replaceable.
When the officers first ask me to be part, I was filling in for a member who had been deployed. I initially committed to assisting with the administration, including meeting structure and social media, for 6 months. It evolved quickly into I can and want to do more. BrooklynVets4kids' mission and passion for the cause of helping children smile is the best feeling. Every little time and effort I can do to further the reason is the best feeling. It is rewarding to know you can change the children's course and provide them with great memories and a reminder their community does love them. This provides parents and caregivers support that people do care and want to help.
What does volunteering mean to you?
Volunteering is not about me but the impact on the person receiving the volunteer experience results. When you open your mind and time and volunteer, you give the energy of hope and possibilities. It is the best feeling of adding to something small that results in output to greatness. This world progresses when we each volunteer. Finding time to support and give, whether in person or virtual, is important; why not be a part of volunteering. It means the knowledge, gifts, and experiences I have; I also get to share and be part of inspiring someone. When I was young, our children's choir director spent a lot of time with us even though she had her own family and young children. I asked her one day why she did it. Her answer stuck with me: "When you do things out of the kindness of your heart, it never feels like work, but it feels like your feeding your soul." Volunteering is feeding my soul.
What is the military experience that you can share about yourself?
I joined the military in 1997 at 28 years old, was married and a mother. I wanted to pay my student loans off and go on with my life. I got more than a bonus to pay off student loans; I got a family. It becomes a bond, experience, and lessons that can not be taken away. I would not trade it for the world. The experiences, training, deployment allowed me to push myself out of my comfort zone and develop teamwork and leadership skills that are not replaceable.
Tabitha Edwards
What made you choose to be a part of this organization? I was always looking for a way to give back to the community. Which always supported us through our times of war. Then one day, my Army buddies came up with an excellent idea to start an organization to give back. I knew right then I wanted to be a part of this organization knowing that we could bring a little happiness into the community.
What does volunteering mean to you? To me, it is working side-by-side with like-minded people for a good cause in connecting us to the communities we serve. We could make this world a better place for future generations. I want to help everyone does not matter who we all could use a helping hand.
What is the military experience that you can share about yourself? I have spent the last 30 years in the Army Reserves been on three combat tours. I have been to places that one could only dream. I held many leadership positions and been held accountable for millions of dollars' worth of equipment. In short, my military experience has made me a better thinker and person. The one true thing that I take from my military experience is my lifelong friendships. We have been through a lot together, and the best is yet to come.
What does volunteering mean to you? To me, it is working side-by-side with like-minded people for a good cause in connecting us to the communities we serve. We could make this world a better place for future generations. I want to help everyone does not matter who we all could use a helping hand.
What is the military experience that you can share about yourself? I have spent the last 30 years in the Army Reserves been on three combat tours. I have been to places that one could only dream. I held many leadership positions and been held accountable for millions of dollars' worth of equipment. In short, my military experience has made me a better thinker and person. The one true thing that I take from my military experience is my lifelong friendships. We have been through a lot together, and the best is yet to come.
Aaron Murphy SFC (Retired USAR)
What made you choose to be a part of this organization?
What makes me want to join brooklynvets4kids seeing what was going on my surroundings Such as a lot of kids doing without school supplies,
Turkey for Thanksgiving or Christmas gifts. An impact is better than anything.
What makes me want to join brooklynvets4kids seeing what was going on my surroundings Such as a lot of kids doing without school supplies,
Turkey for Thanksgiving or Christmas gifts. An impact is better than anything.
What does volunteering mean to you?
Giving back and helping those of that maybe not be as fortunate as me.
Giving back and helping those of that maybe not be as fortunate as me.
What is the military experience that you can share about yourself?
Well, I've been in the military 25 years now I'm on my 5th deployment. I've served in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, Operation New Dawn, and Inherent Resolved. The first tour 1st campaign was 2003 and the most recent tour is 2020. I visited countries such as Iraq Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, and Jordan just to name a few. I met some of the amazing people throughout my career from different backgrounds and cultures and wouldn't trade it for the world.
Well, I've been in the military 25 years now I'm on my 5th deployment. I've served in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, Operation New Dawn, and Inherent Resolved. The first tour 1st campaign was 2003 and the most recent tour is 2020. I visited countries such as Iraq Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, and Jordan just to name a few. I met some of the amazing people throughout my career from different backgrounds and cultures and wouldn't trade it for the world.
Kevin Wilson - SFC
What made you choose to be a part of this organization? We are a military family. One day, one of our military brothers passed away very young. The news struck and shocked us all very deeply. We decided to get together and gather donations to help take care of his wife and kids. It was very successful and that stayed with us. We were first organized as the “The Firm 5555” which the 5’s represents the last four numbers of our fallen brother’s social security number. Then we evolved into the Brooklyn Vets 4 Kids.
What does volunteering mean to you? It means making a difference in someone’s life. If it’s volunteering at a senior citizen center to spend time with the elderly or veterans; having a back to school give away for the community or giving out gifts during Christmas time at a local lodge or community center, gives my heart so much joy. It feels great seeing people smile from what we do.
What is the military experience that you can share about yourself? I am presently active in the Army Reserves as a First Sergeant. I have had many leadership positions both in country and overseas. As a Drill Sergeant, I have trained many Civilians to become great Soldiers, many of them I am still in contact with. My last mobilized tour was serving in the Warrior Transition Unit (WTU) in Texas. There, it gave me a perspective on the future of Soldiers suffering from PTSD or from some physical limitation that may cause them to leave the military that they were dedicated to. My responsibilities were to make sure that those Soldiers of All ranks receive the proper transition that they deserve. “All Soldiers are entitled to outstanding leadership; I will provide that leadership.” NCO Creed.
Andre Bostic
What made you choose to be a part of this organization? I was always looking for a way to give back to the community. Which always supported us through our times of war. Then one day, my Army buddies came up with an excellent idea to start an organization to give back. I knew right then I wanted to be a part of this organization knowing that we could bring a little happiness into the community.
What does volunteering mean to you? To me, it is working side-by-side with like-minded people for a good cause in connecting us to the communities we serve. I believe volunteering comes from the heart and that’s why I chose to be associated with this group of warriors we all share the same passion. I want to be able help in any way possible in enriching the many different communities we belong too.
What is your military experience that you can share about yourself? I have spent the last 22 years in the Army and have been on three combat tours with the same warriors. I have been to places that one could only dream. I held many leadership positions and been held accountable for millions of dollars' worth of equipment. In short, my military experience has made me a better thinker and person. The one true thing that I take from my military experience is my lifelong friendships. We have been through a lot together, and the best is yet to come.
What does volunteering mean to you? To me, it is working side-by-side with like-minded people for a good cause in connecting us to the communities we serve. I believe volunteering comes from the heart and that’s why I chose to be associated with this group of warriors we all share the same passion. I want to be able help in any way possible in enriching the many different communities we belong too.
What is your military experience that you can share about yourself? I have spent the last 22 years in the Army and have been on three combat tours with the same warriors. I have been to places that one could only dream. I held many leadership positions and been held accountable for millions of dollars' worth of equipment. In short, my military experience has made me a better thinker and person. The one true thing that I take from my military experience is my lifelong friendships. We have been through a lot together, and the best is yet to come.
DERON TRENT SSG (Retired USAR)