Washington ARC men reach out to help their corps

By: Angela Morris

In the midst of darkness, light can often be found.

The Prince Georges Corps in Hyattsville, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C., has fully embraced the men of the Washington and Suburban Maryland Adult Rehabilitation Center. Lieutenant Ruby Keith, the corps officer, said, "The men not only attend our corps but are a rich part of our church family. Together, we are building a family out of community."

Once COVID-19 started to shut down the city, cuts were made to the corps operating budget, and one of the cuts was the lawn care. On Wednesday, Major David Sams, the Washington ARC administrator, was driving by the corps and saw a need that he and his men could meet. After returning to the ARC, he shared with some of the men what he had saw and 11 men immediately volunteered to clear the shrubs, remove overgrown plants, mow the lawn and dispose of all the trash.

"These men have decided to make it their mission to assure, even in the midst of a pandemic, that their church home will always be welcoming and inviting to all," Major Sams said.

Major Liz Wilson, the program director for the ARC Command in Atlanta, said, "This is a perfect example of an ARC and their local corps working together as one Army."