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Mena-Oden Ranger District Show Appreciation by Giving Back
from December 19, 2018
by The Pulse
In appreciation for the support they received from the communities in which they serve, personnel from the Mena-Oden Ranger District on the Ouachita National Forest found opportunities to give back this year. “We like participating in the community because we live here,” said Chris Morgan, Mena-Oden Ranger District’s silviculturist. “We’ve made our homes here, and raised and are raising our families here. Mena and Oden are home for us, and we take ownership in these communities.” One of the ways district personnel have supported the community is through the Marine Corps Reserve’s Toys-For-Tots program.
They began collecting toys on Nov. 30 and ended Dec. 13 providing a box full of toys that will be distributed to children throughout the Polk County area. On Dec. 1, personnel participated in the Mena City Christmas Parade with a decorated fire engine and trailer with scenes from Christmas and an appearance by Smokey Bear.
“Several Forest Service employees and their families contributed to its decoration, rode the float, and threw out Smokey Bear toys to onlookers, both young and old,” Morgan said.
In November, Mena-Oden Ranger District personnel collected, contributed and delivered over 200 pounds of food items to the Mena Public Schools’ “Backpack Food Program” collection point at Mena High School.
Darwin Bult, Mena-Oden Ranger District’s assistant fire management officer, presented a fire safety and prevention program to students and teachers at Oden Elementary school during National Fire Prevention Week.
In May, Jade Ryles, Mena-Oden Ranger District’s natural resources manager and Morgan presented a program on careers with the Forest Service to Mena High School’s Agriculture Class.
Approximately 150 children and adults attended a wildlife management and fire safety program at Holly Harshman Elementary School presented by Dan Benefield, wildlife biologist on the Okla- homa Ranger District and Adam Strothers, fire management officer, Mena-Oden Ranger District.
“We desire to give back to the communities because of that ownership and that sense of belonging,” Morgan said. “Also, the communities where we work support the Forest Service immensely in all we do. We want to give back for that past and continued support.
