Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Roberts is a food service sergeant with 3rd Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group. His passion for serving his country does not stop when he is off duty, however. According to a Department of Defense press release, Roberts has put his skills to work at the Boys and Girls Club of Hopkinsville and Christian County, Kentucky.
Roberts first got involved with the organization through his church, which has a connection to the local youth facility. Community leaders knew that Roberts loved food and thought he might be interested in taking on some volunteer work. The minute he started helping out, he knew it was a perfect fit.
According to the release, Roberts' experience cooking for over 100 hungry soldiers came in handy when he started preparing food for the children in the program. That – in addition to making meals for his own children – made him feel right at home as he served up hot food to the kids, many of whom are extremely low income and rely on the institution for their dinner every night.
Roberts spends much of his own money purchasing food and kitchen supplies for the Boys and Girls Club, where he has become a welcomed fixture in the past year.
"He is a positive role model for the young men who come here; they look up to him," Mary Curlin, ministry coordinator for All Nations House of Prayer and a volunteer at the club, told the Department of Defense.
According to Clarksville Online, Roberts has also started coaching the club's football program. He enlisted some of his servicemember colleagues to assist with the team as well, knowing their expertise could lead the youth program to some wins.
The soldier's outstanding community contributions will be recognized at Austin State University's Military Appreciation game, were he will receive his battalion's jersey, noted the source. He attributes receiving the honor to the motto by which he lives his life.
"In all you do take pride in it, always strive for excellence, and when you're passionate about something follow that passion; stay true, stay humble," he told Clarksville Online.