A national non-profit is helping deliver festive cheer to deployed troops, military families, and veteran patients staying in VA hospitals.
Soldiers’ Angels has announced that three annual holiday programs are now open to volunteers, supporters, and recipients alike: Treats for Troops; Holiday Stockings for Heroes; and Adopt-A-Family.
“Following a year of hardships due to COVID-19 and the end of the war in Afghanistan, we want to make this year’s holiday season the best one yet for our service members, veterans, and their families,” said U.S. Air Force veteran Amy Palmer, president and CEO of Soldiers’ Angels. “Now through the end of the year, Soldiers’ Angels is providing all Americans the opportunity to ensure that every eligible service member, veteran and their loved ones are taken care of with a celebration to remember.”
Treats for Troops
Treats for Troops is an annual Halloween candy collection program where local businesses register to become official collection sites and collect excess seasonal candy. The most popular businesses that participate are dental offices— but it is a great program for any location— gyms, schools, churches, and more.
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Once collected, businesses ship the candy to Soldiers’ Angels’ headquarters, where it is repackaged and shipped to deployed service members and veterans.
In 2020, despite the pandemic, Soldiers’ Angels collected and distributed 34,694 pounds of Halloween candy to troops deployed in combat zones. In pre-pandemic years, the organization collected and redistributed as many as 101,072 pounds. To learn more about Treats for Troops, including how to sign up as a collection site or to find one near you, visit here.
Holiday Stocking for Heroes
Launched this year with a goal of delivering 35,000 stockings to those who answered their nation’s call, the annual Holiday Stockings for Heroes drive is seeking pledges from companies and individuals who wish to show their gratitude and help our service members and military veterans get into the holiday spirit.
Donated stockings are shipped to service members deployed to combat zones or in support of combat operations, as well as veteran patients in Veterans Administration hospitals across the country. The stockings are also shared with National Guard and Reserves Units.
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For a list of items to include – and what not to include – as well as instructions on pledging and shipping the completed holiday stockings, visit here.
Adopt-A-Family
Soldiers’ Angels is inviting businesses, organizations, and individuals to support qualified military and veteran families through its annual Holiday Adopt-A-Family program.
Through the generosity of sponsors, military and veteran families are provided the holiday celebration they deserve through donated children’s gifts and a grocery gift card to offset the purchase of a holiday dinner and its trimmings.
During a challenging 2020, nearly 1,500 families were supported through the Adopt-A-Family program. This year, Soldiers’ Angels is doubling down on its efforts with a goal of reaching at least 1,700 military-connected families in need. Visit here to learn how individuals, groups, organizations, and businesses may Adopt-A-Family or for information on how veteran and military families can be a recipient of the program.
Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectingvets.com.