chaptersinaction
ter members collected the postcards USO centers in Iraq and Kuwait.
and mailed them to servicemembers Servicemembers who endure triple-
YOUR OPINION
in Afghanistan and Iraq. digit temperatures in the summer can
How does your chap-
“The intent was to get some sup- use the drink mix to help them wash ter support America’s
port to our deployed folks after the down the hot, fl avorless water they servicemembers and
holidays,” says Chapter President must drink to stay hydrated and pre-
let them know you’re
Lt. Col. Michael Shillinger, USA- vent heatstroke. To fund the effort, the
thinking about them?
Ret. “Not much happens after the chapter donated $400 and launched a
big holidays, so our thought was to community-wide campaign, backed by
Click on Support at
www.moaa.org/
let them know we’re thinking about the Beaches Veterans Association.
discussion or write to MOAA, Attn:
them when there’s less visibility on Individual chapter members donat-
Editor, 201 N. Washington St., Alex-
our deployed folks.” ed an additional $1,000 and solicited
andria, VA 22314, to tell us about it.
donations from the community and
Handing out “Hugs” area veterans’ groups to help fund the and Iraq. This past December,
Edie Rieken, auxiliary liaison for Mayport USO’s free No Dough Din- chapter members assisted Opera-
MOAA’s Portland (Ore.) Chapter, ners program. The dinners are held tion Spokane Heroes by helping
convinced members of her chapter twice monthly and provide service- stuff 300 gift bags for children of
to participate in The Hugs Project. members and their families with hot, deployed servicemembers.
A nonprofi t organization founded in nourishing meals. In Coronado, Calif., home to NAS
2004, The Hugs Project ships neck North Island, members of MOAA’s
scarves and other items that provide Meeting the needs of Silver Strand Chapter support de-
warmth or cooling — depending on servicemembers ployed servicemembers by connect-
the season — to servicemembers in Af- Members of the Spokane (Wash.) ing them with their loved ones back
ghanistan and Iraq. Chapter members Chapter launched a program home. For the past 10 years, the
currently are raising the three years ago to chapter has sponsored the Letters
money needed to outfi t support America’s to the Troops program.
3,000 Oregon guard-
Students in
servicemembers. The Capt. Jim Cahill, USNR-Ret.,
members and reservists
six schools
program became a took the lead in last year’s effort, in
with scarves that contain
wrote more
reality thanks to the which students in six schools wrote
cooling materials, which efforts of chapter more than 840 letters and created
they’ll wear while de- than 840 member Beth Ann 50 pictures that then were mailed
ployed this summer.
letters ...
Daigre, who also to deployed sailors and Marines
Chapter members
to deployed
serves as a member from the area.
also began gathering
sailors and
of national MOAA’s “Most of the time, the letters are
and shipping comfort-
Marines
Auxiliary Member heartwarming and heartrending,
care items to service- Advisory Committee. because the children who are writ-
members in Afghanistan
from the
As part of the program, ing them have a dad or mom who’s
and Iraq in 2008. To
area.
chapter members deployed,” says Chapter President
date, the chapter has go to the airport to Maj. Gen. Bob Butcher, USMC-Ret.
shipped 30 boxes, and send off deploying Learn more about what MOAA
members plan to ship 30 servicemembers and chapter members are doing to sup-
more this year, says Chapter Presi- greet them when they return home port U.S. servicemembers by visiting
dent Lt. Col. Gary Brink, USA-Ret. to Spokane. MOAA’s Web Base,
www.moaa.org.
Each year, chapter members also Select Chapters/Community from
Sustenance for the troops ship dozens of boxes fi lled with the main menu. Then click on Chap-
Last year, members of MOAA’s May- comfort-care items and thank-you ter Members from the dropdown
port (Fla.) Chapter shipped 47 boxes cards from area children to service- menu, and select Fundraising &
containing powdered drink mix to members deployed to Afghanistan Community Involvement.
M AY 2 0 0 9 M I L I T A R Y O F F I C E R 4 3
MMay_chapters.indd
43ay_chapters.indd 43 44/1/09 9:50:56 PM/1/09 9:50:56 PM
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