Our KNX Heroes of the Week, Teri and Howie Naftalin, are spearheading an effort to send care packages to military ships!
Courtesy of Naftalin Family
For over five years now, Howie and Terry Naftalin's son Ethan has been a member of the US Navy, working on a military ship as a sonar technician.
Ethan Naftalin, STG - US NavyNaftalin Family
“They were sent over to the Middle East back in February when the whole Operation Epic Fury began,” Teri told Heroes host Heather Jordan. “We were able to have, I think, two phone calls with him during that time. The second phone call, he was talking about how low morale was, how long they'd been there, they hadn't been off the ship in quite some time, and everybody was just feeling the stress of it all.”
Teri and Howie immediately started putting together a care package for their son, but as they were shopping, an idea sparked - maybe their SoCal neighbors and friends might want to help send packages to the entire ship as well.
The couple said they reached out and the response was incredible.
Naftalin Family
“We created a document with step-by-step instructions. We created a sign-up sheet,” Teri explained. “Our son sent us the names of all the divisions on the ship, and in about a two-month period, we had sent just over 60 packages to the ship. The smaller ships, there were a few 100 sailors on it rather than a few 1,000. So the impact of this was going to be pretty instantaneous as soon as those packages would start arriving.”
Each care package was full of goodies and snacks like protein bars and oatmeal packets, plus a personal letter of encouragement.
The couple said about half of the packages have been delivered so far.
Naftalin Family
Each care package was full of goodies and snacks like protein bars and oatmeal packets, plus a personal letter of encouragement.The couple said about half of the packages have been delivered so far.
“What was great about it is that it really wasn't even what we were sending,” Howie said. “When they know that they're not forgotten, then that's the world.”
The Naftalins have offered to help other families or community members who might be interested in doing the same thing. Connect with them directly via email at: FinsFamiliesFriends@gmail.com.
Check out our other KNX Heroes here.
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