This story is part of a bi-weekly series that celebrates people who are reaching across a divide to “build bridges” with those different from themselves. The Get Marty: Community Bridges series is made possible with the support of UPMC.
Bonnie Phillippi and her volunteers started panicking in August. “We knew we wouldn’t make it if we didn’t do something.”
“Making it” meant being able to achieve their goal of filling and shipping 300 care packages filled with Christmas holiday cheer to troops serving overseas. Holiday decorations, homemade crafts, snacks, even basics like toothbrushes, toilet paper and socks.
Yellow Ribbon Girls, founded by Bonnie and her sisters Patti Phillippi and Vicki Henley almost two decades ago in Beaver County, had never failed to meet their mark to make a holiday special for military members away from family and friends. But with fundraisers cancelled and people stuck at home because of the pandemic, what could they do?
They went back to basics, and asked people in the community to “Adopt a Soldier.” The idea was an instant success. People signed on to help fill the Christmas care packages and pay the postage to ship them.
“We put it out there on Facebook,” said Bonnie. “I got on the local radio stations. I got on the local newspapers and we spread it. Everybody spread it to the next person. It’s past our wildest dream.” The group thought they’d only be able to pack and ship 150 boxes this year. In the end they achieved their goal of 300. “People said how can we let this fall apart this year? Everybody stepped up for us,” said Bonnie.
The Christmas boxes are already packed, and on their way, but there’s still a chance for you to get involved. Yellow Ribbon Girls collects donations of money and items all year long, for every holiday.
The Get Marty: Community Bridges project is produced with the generous support of UPMC. Life Changing Medicine.
