Virtual Hugs

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Projects


 
 
Seventh Annual Thanksgiving Food Drive2009
 
Community Celebrates Military Family Appreciation Month
 
We give thanks and celebrate our blessings for having such wonderful volunteers and sponsors that made our  Seventh Annual Thanksgiving Food Drive a success for the 2-69 Armor Battalion families facing hardships during the holidays.  This Battalion from Fort Benning has recently deployed to Iraq. 
 
Volunteers delivered cans of vegetables, fruit, cranberry sauce, instant potatoes, stuffing mix, macaroni and cheese, gravy, broth, Jell-O and dessert mixes.  Turkeys were provided by the Army Community Services. 
 
Military families serve just as their uniformed service members do.  Our heartfelt thanks to the families who sacrifice so much -- you are patriots in a quiet, strong way and you make all the difference.  God Bless our troops and their families.

 


 
Suwanee Day Festival
September 19, 2009
 
The 2-69 Amor Soldiers from Fort Benning, Georgia, traveled over two hours to celebrate community and be a part of the Suwanee Day Festival.  The Soldiers arrived to a delicious breakfast made special for them by Chef Mark of the Duluth First United Methodist Church.  The Soldiers enjoyed a full slate of festival activities which included marching in the parade with their Commander, Lt. Col. Ashe and his family, as Honorary Grand Marshal.  After the parade, the Soldiers were honored for their service with Mayor Dave Williams declaring September 21 as "2-69 Armor Day."   The Soldiers were recognized again later in the day during a flag ceremony while Hank Bird & the Borderline Band sang "God Bless the USA."  It was a very moving experience knowing the Soldiers will be deploying to Iraq for a fourth time within weeks.  Ippolito's Italian Restaurant hosted dinner for the Soldiers and their families in attendance.  Wild Bill's showed their appreciation for the troops by donating tickets to their event for the evening. Hugs for Soldiers provided overnight accommodations.
 
What a great time had by all. 

 
Hugs for Soldiers Booth
Old Milton Country Fair
Alpharetta, GA
Saturday & Sunday, September 12-13, 2009

 
 What a fun weekend!  We made so many new friends who have joined us as volunteers and supporters.  The military exhibits were awesome. 
 
Soldiers from the Georgia Army National Guard Recruiting Station in Roswell joined us in greeting guests.  VFW Post 12002 has teamed up with Hugs for Soldiers in sending Starbucks Coffee to our troops.  The Alpharetta Lion's Club sponsored a banner for securing signatures and well wishes from all attendees for shipping to the troops overseas.
 
Many thanks to Girl Scout Troop 1687 for donating the beautiful crochet items for a fundraiser.  Thanks to our volunteers from Duluth First United Methodist Church, Alpharetta Junior Woman's Club and Republican Women for helping in our booth.
 
We look forward to next year!! 


 

Spring Care Packages 2009

 

 St. Patrick's Day

 

Packages were packed full of luck, blessings and prayers.  Our troops received Good Luck cards, Lucky Charms Cereal, Oats 'N Honey Granola Bars, Irish Cream Hot Cocoa, Green Tea, Lemon-Lime Powered Sports Drink Mix, Gum in green wrappers, Sour Cream and Onion Pringels, Mint Flavored Toothpaste and Green Toothbrush, Mint Dental Floss & Mouthwash, Aloe Vera Hand & Body Lotion, Irish Spring Bar Soap & Body Wash and Pert Shampoo.

 


Easter ~ Packages were filled with candy and cards that warmed a Soldier's heart!



 Operation: Taste of Home 2009

 

Girl Scout cookies are a great symbol of America.  In fact, Girl Scout Cookies continue to be one of the most requested items by Soldiers. 

We appreciate the hard work and dedication from all the girls who donated cookies during our sixth annual Cookie Drive.  The Duluth Service Unit, Dunwoody Service Unit and Mill Creek Service Unit of Greater Atlanta have certainly done their part in making sure U.S. Troops receive a "Taste of Home."

More than 5,300 boxes were donated for our troops in 2009!

2,000 boxes have been shipped overseas, 1,000 boxes went to Fort Benning,

and the remaining boxes will be included in Care Packages. 


Hugs and Hearts for our Troops2009

Thank you to the families, schools, churches, Scouts, and civic groups who sent love, hugs, prayers and caring thoughts to our troops through over 2,800 of the most beautiful Valentine Cards from 18 states.   Your cards will touch the hearts of our troops serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait and Germany. 

Over 400 Valentine Treat Bags were shipped to the troops made from the candy that was donated.  The bags were filled with Hershey's HUGS,  KISSES in all flavors and an assortment of Valentine candies.  We also appreciate all the cute stuffed animals...and, so will the troops!!

Please visit our Photo Gallery for a few pictures taken of the cards shipped to the troops...wish we could post everyone of them!  Much love to all our volunteers!


 

Christmas for Our Troops2008

 

The “Christmas for Our Troops” 2008 Holiday Drive was a great success.  Over 1,200 Christmas packages were shipped to troops deployed overseas in all branches of our military.  Volunteers from Scouts to Senior citizens came together at the Duluth First United Methodist Church to assemble packages filled with an assortment of Hot Chocolate, Apple Cider, Candy Bars, Cookies, Granola Bars, Trail Mix, Nuts, Slim Jims, Chewing Gum, Single Serving Powered Drink Mixes, Hard Candy, Microwave Popcorn and Instant Soup.

In addition to the wonderful donation of snacks, 1,500 Holiday Cards were received from schools, churches, businesses and organizations expressing messages of gratitude, along with holiday cheer.  We appreciate all the love poured into the cards.  Many boxes were filled with sets of bath towels, washcloths, blankets, scarves, hats, personal care items, Christmas ornaments, puzzle books, stationery, pens and small board games.


We wish to thank everyone who gave their time and efforts to support the troops at this special time of year.  Love and HUGS to all!



REMEMBERING MILITARY FAMILIES AT THANKSGIVING2008

Community Celebrates Military Family Appreciation Month

 


As we celebrate our blessings, and give thanks for our freedom to enjoy them, we take great pride in honoring our Military Families.  While this is a wonderful time of year where families and friends come together to feast and reflect on the things we are most grateful for, it is also a time that brings great stress and hardship to others.

It is our privilege to have an opportunity to help those families at Ft. Benning.  The Army Community Services provided Thanksgiving Turkeys to 61 families of the 2-69 Armor Battalion which were recipients nominated by their leading military officers.   Canned fruits, vegetables, instant potatoes, cornbread stuffing, macaroni and cheese, gravy, Jell-O, biscuit and dessert mixes were donated to the Duluth First United Methodist Church.  Financial donations were used to purchase additional items needed.

Families serve just as their uniformed service members do.  Our heartfelt thanks to the families who sacrifice so much – you are patriots in a quiet, strong way and you make all the difference

Thanks to our volunteers – Angie Doerlich, Carolyn Moore, Judy Bargainnier, Diane Womble, Charlie Hudson and Dick Rodie – for delivering the food on November 25th  



Operation: Taste of Home 2008

Operation: Taste of Home was an absolute success thanks to all of the Girl Scouts involved, the churches, individuals, businesses and the general public who stopped at Girl Scout cookie booths to buy a box of cookies to show their support of our American Troops. Over 4,000 boxes of cookies were collected for our military men and women. Please go to our Special Thanks category to see all of those who helped make this possible, as well as visit our Photo Gallery, Girl Scout Cookie Drive, to see pictures of our  volunteers and of our Soldiers in Iraq who have sent pictures to us showing their enjoyment of this little “Taste of Home”.

Valentine Cards for our Troops 2008


Oh, the love that was shown to our Soldiers throughout the Valentine’s holiday! Children at schools, churches and scouts across our great nation worked feverishly in making their very own special card to say, “I love you and appreciate you” to our American Heroes in Iraq and Afghanistan. Adults made hand stamped or purchased cards and filled them with loving and caring words. All in all, over 4,000 cards were sent to our Soldiers! Some were heart shaped and some had Chapstick attached to them called “Smacks for Our Soldiers.” They were colorful and filled with words from the heart. Please take a moment and visit our Photo Gallery to view some of these cards, as well as look at our Special Thanks to see all of those who were involved.