There is no higher honor in life than serving your country, unselfishly and courageously. Home Instead Senior Care is honored to have Private Sierra Campbell of the Army National Guard as a CAREGiverSM who was able to provide care to a veteran. “It has truly been an honor having Sierra as part of our CAREGiverSM family,” said Theresa Widmer, Human Resource Director. Campbell is being deployed in August this year and will be connected to an infantry battalion unit where she will provide meals as a cook for her unit and others. She said they can feed 600 plus during one mealtime. She will help provide two meals daily and use her culinary skills learned from high school as she worked at the school’s restaurant. She is most excited about working as a cook, so she can meet everyone, “They all have to eat”. She will be able to meet Majors, 1st Sergeants and have interactions with people all the time.
Campbell recalled how it all started; she was a sophomore at Kent State University, just 19 years old when she enlisted for an eight-year term with the Army National Guard. Thinking it over for a year, she took the leap and has been happy about her decision ever since. After completing her basic training at Fort Jackson in South Carolina and her advanced training at Fort Lee in Virginia; she has been able to travel to Minnesota, Idaho and now with her deployment she will serve abroad. Campbell smiled as she tells us, “I wanted to challenge myself and do something different. I wanted the life experience.”
After her deployment, she plans to go active duty and wants to finish her degree in Public Affairs, so she can be an officer in the Army. Campbell follows in her grandfathers’ footsteps, as he served in the Army during the Vietnam and Korean Wars. Her uncle also is serving active duty in the Airforce.
Sierra enjoyed her time as a CAREGiverSM with Home Instead Senior Care. She said, I “enjoyed being a caregiver because I had no family close, since they all live in Michigan. I felt like I was taking care of my grandparents.” She recalled connecting with them and that one time she took her client on a drive to Kent State University and showed her where her classes were, and the client explained to her what the campus looked like when she went there.
In April, Sierra will be heading to Kentucky to be stationed at Fort Knox, then moved to her premobilization base for deployment. Sierra will be greatly missed by her clients and family at Home Instead, but all her clients and the Home Instead Family is so deeply proud of her! “On behalf of Home Instead Senior Care, we wish Private Campbell the best of luck and pray for her and our military personnel’s safety. We Thank You for serving our great country!”, Paula Baughman, Executive Director of Marketing and Community Relations stated.
A surprise Appreciation Luncheon was held at the office with administrators, where Joan Penix, Executive Director hugged Campbell as she said, “Freedom is not free and we thank you for your willingness to serve our country and the sacrifices you’ve made.”
