Oil changes provided for spouses of deployed

For military spouses whose loved ones are in harm's way, changing the oil in the family car probably is not at the top of their priority list.

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"Our men's group at New Hope Worship Center wanted to help soldiers on post, and we decided the best thing we could do was provide oil changes for spouses," said Lonnie Lowe Jr., the New Hope Iron Men leader, talking about the community service dubbed Operation Noble Endeavor.

Nearly 140 families of deployed soldiers with the 67th Signal Battalion and the 513th Military Intelligence Battalion will receive the oil changes March 26 through April 11 at the Riverfront Collision Center in Evans.

"I think this is a fantastic show of support for our military families," said Beth Dixon, 67th Signal Battalion family readiness group leader, in an e-mail. "With their soldier deployed, our spouses are suddenly solely responsible for all the household issues. I know it can be difficult to remember to go take care of getting that oil change."

Mr. Lowe, who is retired from the Army, enlisted the help of several businesses and organizations including Campus Crusade for Christ military ministry, Promise Keepers, Cutie Pies Gourmet Caf, Sam's Club, Georgia Bank and Trust, The Augusta Chronicle, The Columbia News-Times, AAFES, Auto Zone, Augusta-Richmond County and Larry Miller Century 21. Mr. Lowe said Riverfront Collision Center would perform the oil changes at its cost.

"I think it will be a great relief to them to have this opportunity to have their car taken care of and surely it's a relief to the soldiers down range, too," Ms. Dixon said.