Weekly Newsletter 11/23/2008

First and foremost--WE DID IT!!!!! Yesterday, we packed 97 boxes full of goodies that were sent to our young men who are stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan through the Christmas season! What a blessing for me to see everyone pitch in and do whatever needed to be done! We had a fool proof plan, which, of course, wasn't, but because people pitched right in to help out and cure the problems--our packing went off with (hardly) a problem! There were times, I would stop what I was doing, look around and just take it all in! We are truly blessed to live in a community that cares about our troops! If you did not make it to yesterday's packing party--you missed a fun time and a wonderful opportunity to be of service to our service members overseas!!! But, you have other opportunities to get involved:

--"Christmas Cards for Troops" are due by Monday, November 24th. We hope to receive enough cards to pack a Flat Rate Priority Mail BOX for every service member who will receive our goodie boxes sent out yesterday! We hope to have enough cards to also send a card to every active duty service member serving throughout the world. THIS WILL TAKE A LOT OF CARDS--PLEASE HELP!!

--On Tuesday, November 25th, we will meet in the HHAFFA office at 6 pm to pack our "Christmas Cards for Troops" and address envelopes to our active duty service members serving throughout the world!!

--NEW!! NEW!! NEW!! Chris and Lisa Sallade bought a trailer to be used in the Christmas Parade and other parades. Larry Arnold has arranged for us to decorate the trailer in a warm building!!! Please come to the old Visteon Plant (doesn't that sound strange??), Building 3 (Larry said to go in by Union Optical, through the gates and he would have a sign out in front of Bldg 3 that day!) on Saturday, November 29th at 1 pm to help decorate the trailer for the Christmas Parade.

--On Tuesday, December 2nd, we will meet in the HHAFFA office at 6 pm to get everything ready for our Christmas Tree in the gazebo in Harp Commons. We need to make icicles for every active duty service member and stars for every service member serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

--On Saturday, December 6th at 11 am, we will meet in the gazebo in Harp Commons on the west side of the Bedford Square to decorate our Christmas tree.

--BEDFORD CHRISTMAS PARADE!!! On Saturday, December 6th at 6pm, we will be participating in the Bedford, Christmas Parade. Please dress warmly!!!! We will have a trailer to ride in, or you can walk beside it! Let's have fun and show our support for our troops!!!

I want to take just one more minute and say a very sincere "THANK YOU" to all who participated in this year's "Christmas Boxes for Troops"! Maybe you donated items, maybe you wrote "Thank You"s, maybe you helped prepack items on Tuesday (VERY helpful!), maybe you typed labels and customs forms (WOW!), maybe you hauled items from the HHAFFA office to the K of C, maybe you helped get the K of C ready, maybe you made coffee, maybe you helped unpack items, maybe you helped put boxes together, maybe you baked cookies, maybe you supervised a table, maybe you wrote cards, maybe you packed boxes, maybe you inspected, maybe you taped, maybe you matched boxes with customs forms, maybe you helped pack items back up afterward, maybe you helped clean up and put the K of C back together again, maybe you loaded boxes in the trucks, maybe you helped haul things back to the HHAFFA office, maybe you helped unload at the post office, maybe you stood at the post office for a couple of hours while the packages were processed, and maybe you did other things to help out--but whatever you did--IT COULDN'T HAVE BEEN DONE WITHOUT YOU!!! Thank you, Thank You, Thank You!!!!!!! I hope to see you all very soon!

God Bless Our Troops and their families back home!
Nancy Peabody

WOW! I just want to say a BIG "Thank You" to the people who showed up at the HHAFFA office on Tuesday evening! What a hard working bunch of people! We went through the donations, prepacked them in Ziploc bags in preparation for Saturday's packing, ate pizza, and enjoyed each others' company! I bet a few of you had nightmares of never-ending snacks and candy!!!

God bless all of you!Remember, we need help for Saturday! If you can help haul boxes of prepacked goodies (see previous paragraph) from the HHAFFA office to the K of C Hall, please meet at the HHAFFA office at 8 am on Saturday. If you can help set up tables and get organized at the K of C Hall, please come to the Hall at 8 am! We will need help packing boxes and for clean up afterwards! We will have jobs for everyone! We need greeters, inspectors, packers, tapers, labelers, checkers and double-checkers! (I just made up names for some of the jobs!) Hope to see you there bright and early Saturday morning! Remember, we will have coffee and donuts!!!!!!!!Thanks again to those hard workers who helped out Tuesday evening!!!!

God Bless Our Troops!Nancy

Weekly Newsletter 11/16/2008

Happy Holidays!
I hope you all have been working out, getting in shape, getting ready for all the activities scheduled for the next few weeks, because we are going to be busy, busy busy!!

THIS WEEK:
--Donations for "Christmas Boxes for Troops" are due by MONDAY, November 17th! You may drop them off at the Red Cross office, or call me (275-0366), and I can pick them up after work!

--We will gather together on Tuesday, November 17th at 6 pm in the HHAFFA office to organize donations for the packing party and finalize plans! We will prepack items in Ziploc bags and decide if we need to purchase additional items. AND WE WILL ORDER PIZZAS!!!!

--THE BIG DAY!! The "Christmas Boxes for Troops" will be packed on November 22nd at 9 am at the K of C Hall (2202 M St, Bedford). We plan on packing about 50 boxes for our deployed servicemembers.
We need help:
-If you can help haul items from the HHAFFA office to the K of C Hall, please meet us at the HHAFFA office Saturday morning at 8 am!
-If you can come early to the K of C Hall that Saturday morning, we need help setting up tables, organizing donations, and getting the boxes ready to be filled!
-We need help packing boxes!
-We need help sealing boxes!
-We need help making sure we have the correct address label with a customs form!
-We need help carrying boxes to the truck to take to the post office!
-We need help cleaning up after--including taking items back to the HHAFFA office, taking down tables, and sweeping!
-We need help eating donuts and drinking coffee!!!!!
So, I hope to see all of you there on Saturday!!


Other scheduled activities:
--"Christmas Cards for Troops" are due by Monday, November 24th. Please have your business or organization, youth group, Sunday School class, family and friends, and others write a short note and sign cards. We hope to receive enough cards to pack a Flat Rate Priority Mail BOX for every service member serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as sending a card to every active duty service member serving throughout the world. THIS WILL TAKE A LOT OF CARDS--PLEASE HELP!!

--On Tuesday, November 25th, we will meet in the HHAFFA office at 6 pm to pack our "Christmas Cards for Troops".

--On Tuesday, December 2nd, we will meet in the HHAFFA office at 6 pm to get everything ready for our Christmas Tree in the gazebo in Harp Commons. We need to make icicles for every active duty service member and stars for every service member serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

--On Saturday, December 6th at 11 am, we will meet in the gazebo in Harp Commons on the Bedford Square to decorate our Christmas tree.

--BEDFORD CHRISTMAS PARADE!!! On Saturday, December 6th in the evening, we will be participating in the Bedford Christmas Parade.

A few announcements and a little information:

--I hope everyone was able to attend one or more of the many Veterans Day programs held throughout the area. I was able to attend two programs and wish I could have attended more! I am fortunate to have my son, Royce (RP) Peabody, home!!! He is out of the Army (and LOOKING FOR A JOB!!). Veteran's Day has always meant a lot to me, but when the speakers talked about the sacrifices, the courage and the respect due all these young men and women, I totally lost it! They were talking about MY baby, MY son, and all the other mothers' babies, sons and daughters! We must always remember, not just on Veteran's Day, what it takes to be in the military, and how it affects these young men and women and their families back home! Year around, show your appreciation "from the folks back home"!!

--This is the time of year where you will be receiving many email requests, including a request to send letters to "A Recovering Soldier" at Walter Reed Hospital. DO NOT DO THIS!!! Any mail or package addressed in such a manner will be returned! BUT the American Red Cross will deliver mail to service members, their families and veterans. I encourage each of you to go to the "Holiday Mail for Heroes" site www.redcross.org for more information!

--Hellos from Home
The "sneak peek" of the American Red Cross Hoosier Hills Chapter "Hellos from Home" program went well! "Hellos from Home" is available to anyone who wants to send an email with a video message to any service member at any time (as long as previous arrangements have been made with the Red Cross office). Videos can also be uploaded from camcorders!

--Welcome Home Seminar
There will be another "Welcome Home Seminar" on November 17, 2008 at 6:30 pm at the Shoals Christian Church Resource Center (602 N Main St, Shoals). FREE babysitting is available! FREE supper, too! Anyone who missed either of the seminars may pick up a "Welcome Home" packet at the American Red Cross Hoosier Hills Chapter House on 29th Street.
In addition, the Hoosier Hills Chapter has received a grant to provide support for local military families. Among the offerings is a FREE Health and Safety Class (Adult, Infant/Child CPR, First Aid, and Blood borne Pathogens Training available to anyone with a military ID.
Anyone who has suggestions for items especially useful for families who have a new recruit, please submit suggestions. HHAFFA will pass them on to the Red Cross.

Now, get your calendar, make note of all the dates, and get involved! Christmas is a time of giving (of time and energy also!)--and who deserves "receiving" these gifts more than our military personnel!

GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS!!!
Nancy Peabody

Creation of a Soldier

THE CREATION OF A SOLDIER.

When the Lord was creating Soldiers, he was into his sixth day of overtime when an Angel appeared and said "You're doing a lot of fiddling around on this one."

And the Lord said "Have you read the specifications on this person?""Soldiers have to be able to go for hours fighting or tending to a person that the usual every day person would never touch, all the while putting in the back of their mind the circumstances.

They have to be able to move at a moments notice and not think twice at what they are about to do, no matter what the danger.

They have to be in top physical condition at all times, running on half-eaten MRE's and very little sleep.

They must have six pairs of hands.

"The Angel shook her head slowly and said "Six pairs of hands...no way!"

"It's not the hands that are causing me problems" said the Lord."It's the three pairs of eyes a Soldier has to have."

"That's on the standard model?" asked the Angel.The Lord nodded. "One pair that sees through the smoke and haze where they and their fellow Soldiers should fight the enemy next. Antoher pair here, in the side of the head to see their fellow Soldiers and keep them safe. And a third pair of eyes in the front so that they can look for the wounded, caught in the fight that may need their help."

"Lord" said the Angel, touching his sleeve, "Rest and work on this tomorrow."

"I can't" said the Lord. "I already have a model that can carry a 100pounds of different pieces of equipment and can recite many procedures in their sleep that are needed to care for a wounded soldier until they are taken away by the medics. And all the while, they have to keep their wits about themselves."

"This Soldier also must have phenomenal personal control. They can deal with scenes full of pain, hurt, noise and smoke. They can be laughing and joking one second and fierce and hard in the next. And still they rarely get the recognition for a job well done from anybody other than from fellow Soldiers.

"Finally the Angel bent over and ran her finger across the cheek of the Soldier.

"there's a leak" she pronounced. "Lord, it's a tear.""What is the tear for?" asked the Angel.

"It's a tear from bottled-up emotions for fallen comrades. A tear forcommittment to that funny piece of cloth called the flag. It's a tear for all the pain and suffering they have encountered. And, it's a tear for their commitment to defending our freedoms and saving lives of their fellow man."

"What a wonderful feature Lord, you're a genius" said the Angel.

The Lord looked somber and said "I didn't put it there."

Author unknown.

Our military personal are truly a rare and special breed...
Thank God we have Heroes such as them among us...
God bless each every one....
Never forget...

Special Presentation

FREE Babysitting! FREE Food!

Welcome Home - Adapting to the Change The American Red Cross Hoosier Hills Chapter is presenting a Welcome Home Seminar at the Chapter House, 2119 29th St., Bedford, on Thursday, November 13th at 6:30 pm.

There will also be a Welcome Home Seminar in Shoals on Monday, Nov 17th. When a loved one comes home, it is an exciting and wonderful time. But, change can bring stress.

The Welcome Home Seminar identifies common stressors and presents strategies on how family and service members can successfully manage reunification challenges.

Families who have already experienced a homecoming are welcome to attend to help others by sharing their experience. All attendees will receive a support package and information on how to access a comprehensive resource list of services for military families.

There will also be an opportunity from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm in Bedford to send a video via email to your loved one in the military.

Please let us know if you plan to attend! Call 275-5162 (or toll free from Orange & Martin Counties 866-599-9951)
Betsy

Weekly Newsletter 11/09/2008

Well, we knew it was too good to last--winter is here!!! Is this cold weather getting everyone in the Christmas spirit???? We have plenty of activities to keep everyone in the spirit of the season!

It's CRUNCH TIME-- --DONATIONS FOR "CHRISTMAS BOXES FOR TROOPS" are due by Monday, November 17th!! Becky Bailey sent me an email and said she had talked to a soldier at Walmart just back from Iraq. Becky asked her for some first-hand ideas of what items are appreciated most by our troops in Iraq, and here are a few of the suggestions: Chapstick, body lotion, hand lotion, baby lotion, baby wipes (in individual packets), small containers of baby powder, shampoo with conditioner, tooth paste, toothbrushes, jerky, vienna sausages, tuna (pop top lids), peanut butter crackers, cheese crackers, pringles, pretzels, mints, gum, novels, current magazines, word search books, DVDs, hand held games.

I also wanted to pass on something else. Becky said that "this gal was so tiny and looked so young, that I asked her if it would be alright if I gave her a big hug to thank her and her fellow soldiers for all they have done and are continuing to do for us. She got tears in her eyes and told me how much it meant to them to have the out-pouring of support they have received from the folks from Lawrence County. Many other soldiers didn't have that luxury. But in true 'Hoosier Hospitality' fashion, our troops 'share the wealth' when they receive packages from home." Keep that in mind--you may not personally receive a "Thank You", but our young men and women DO appreciate the support from the folks back home--sometimes it is what gets them through the day!!

--We will get together on Tuesday, November 18th at 6 pm in the HHAFFA office to organize donations for the packing party and finalize plans. We will prepack items in Ziploc bags and decide if we need to purchase additional items. And we will order pizza to be delivered that evening!

--THE BIG DAY!!!! The "Christmas Boxes for Troops" will be packed on November 22nd at 9 am at the K of C Hall (2202 M St, Bedford). We plan on packing about 70 boxes for our deployed servicemembers. We will need help with setting up the Hall, transporting items to the Hall from the HHAFFA office, and cleaning up after the packing party. We will also need help packing the boxes! Please plan to attend and help out where you can!

--"Christmas Cards for Troops" are due by Monday, November 24th. Please have your business or organization, youth organization, Sunday School class, family and friends, and others write a short note and sign cards. We hope to receive enough cards to pack a Flat Rate Priority Mail BOX for every service member serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as sending a card to every active duty servicemember serving throughout the world. This will take a lot of cards--please help out!!

--On Tuesday, November 25th, we will meet in the HHAFFA office at 6 pm to pack our "Christmas Cards for Troops".

--On Tuesday, December 2nd, we will meet in the HHAFFA office at 6 pm to get everything ready for our Christmas Tree in the gazebo in Harp Commons. We need to make icicles for every active duty service member and stars for every service member serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

--NEW DATE AND TIME!!!! On Saturday, December 6th at 11 am, we will meet in the gazebo in Harp Commons on the Bedford Square to decorate our Christmas tree.

--BEDFORD CHRISTMAS PARADE!!!! On Saturday, December 6th in the evening, we will be participating in the Bedford Christmas Parade. Everyone needs to plan on participating--I want so many people to show up dressed in their red/white/blue, that people will be asking themselves--"I thought Christmas colors were red/green???"

Veteran's Day is Tuesday, November 11th. Throughout the country, throughout the state and throughout our community, many different schools and organizations are planning Veterans' Day observances. Contact your local school, VFW, American Legion, etc to find out their plans and plan to participate to show your appreciation. Never forget the sacrifice of our Armed Forces, past and present.

God Bless Our Troops and their families back home!
Nancy Peabody

The Ladies Auxiliary of VFW Post 9107 in Mitchell will be hosting (again) the Annual Veteran's Day Dinner/Festivities) on November 8th beginning at 5 pm. Our speaker this year is John Pourner, II. (Dinner will start at 6 PM.) If you can or would like to attend, please call the Post at 849-4900 to let them know how many will be in your Party. Thanks.

Also, we are in need of names (addresses and phone numbers) of Active Duty Personnel families in Mitchell area that would be in need of or could use a "Thanksgiving Basket". Also, we are trying to collect names (addresses and phone numbers) of children of Active Duty Personnel for our Angel Tree. So, if you could help me out with this, I would really appreciate it. Thanks in advance. For the Thanksgiving Baskets we would need the info by the 20th of November and for the Angel Tree, by the 5th of December.

Again, thanks in advance.
Sandy

News Release

The American Red Cross Hoosier Hills Chapter is presenting two "Welcome Home: Adapting to the Change" seminars for families of service members who are returning home from deployment. Please read through the attachment for more information.

Nancy P

NEWS RELEASE
______________________________________________________________________________
AMERICAN RED CROSS Media Contact: Betsy Henley
Hoosier Hills Chapter (812) 275-5162
Welcome Home, Soldier!

“Honor to the soldier, and sailor everywhere, who bravely bears his country’s cause. Honor also to the citizen who cares for his brother in the field, and serves, as he best can, the same cause.” - President Abraham Lincoln


The American Red Cross Hoosier Hills Chapter is presenting two Welcome Home: Adapting to the Change Seminars for families of service members who are returning home from deployment. When a loved one comes home, it is an exciting and wonderful time. But, change can bring about anxiety. The Welcome Home Seminar identifies common stressors and presents strategies on how family and service members can successfully manage reunification challenges. Families who have already experienced a homecoming are welcomed to attend to help others by sharing their experience.

The first Welcome Home Seminar will be presented on November 13, 2008, at 6:30 pm at the Hoosier Hills Chapter House, 2119 29th St., Bedford. The second Welcome Home Seminar, co-sponsored by Psi Iota Xi, Gamma Iota Chapter, is set for November 17, 2008, at 6:30 pm at the Shoals Christian Church Resource Center, 602 N. Main St., Shoals. All attendees will receive a support package and information on how to access a comprehensive resource list of services for military families. There will be a free supper and complimentary babysitting services.

Finally, attendees will have an opportunity to be the first to use a new program at the Hoosier Hills Chapter called “Hello’s From Home.” This program allows anyone in the community to send a 10-minute video of him or herself to a service member oversees. Those wishing to make a video are invited to join our program “kick-off” at the Chapter House on November 13, 2008, between 4:30 pm and 6:30 pm. To attend any of these events, please call for reservations or more information at 275-5162 or toll free at 866-599-9951.

Weekly Newsletter 11/02/2008

And ANOTHER beautiful Fall weekend!!!! Enjoy these beautiful days, because the cold IS coming!! And so are our many activities:

--Our first MOMS (Mothers of Military Servicemembers) and Spouses' Meeting of the "new year" will be this Tuesday, November 4th at 6:30 pm in the HHAFFA office. Refreshments will be provided! We will be discussing our plans for the Christmas packing party and the Christmas Card Shower, as well as sharing news, pictures and concerns.

--We have scheduled our first HHAFFA Monthly Dinner for November 7th at 6 pm at the Cloverleaf Restaurant in Bedford. We enjoy getting together over dinner and enjoy each others' company! Please let me know (RSVP) if you will be attending!

--We will get together on Tuesday, November 18th at 6 pm in the HHAFFA office to organize donations for the packing party and finalize plans. We will prepack items in Ziploc bags and decide if we need to purchase additional items. How about we order pizza to be delivered that evening?

--THE BIG DAY!!! The "Christmas Boxes for Troops" will be packed on November 22nd at 9 am at the K of C Hall (2202 M St, Bedford). We plan on packing three boxes for each deployed servicemember--snacks and food, toiletries, books and magazines! We will need help with setting up the Hall, transporting items to the Hall from the HHAFFA office, and cleaning up after the packing party. We will also need help packing the boxes! Please plan to attend and help out where you can!

--On Tuesday, November 25th, we will meet in the HHAFFA office at 6 pm to pack our "Christmas Cards for Troops". We hope to receive enough cards to pack a Flat Rate Priority Mail BOX for every service member serving in Iraq or Afghanistan, as well as sending a card to every active duty service member serving throughout the world!

--On Tuesday, December 2nd, we will meet in the HHAFFA office at 6 pm to get everything ready for our Christmas Tree in the gazebo in Harp Commons. We need to make icicles for every active duty service member and stars for every service member serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

--********NEW DATE!!!! On Saturday, December 6th at 11 am, we will meet in the gazebo in Harp Commons on the Bedford Square to decorate our Christmas tree. It won't take long, you'll have plenty of time to go home and get ready for the . . .

--Bedford Christmas Parade!!! On Saturday, December 6th, we will be participating in the Bedford Christmas Parade. Everyone needs to plan on participating--so we can ALL show our support for our troops! We want hundreds of signs and hundreds of people walking together!

Reminders--

Christmas boxes--Get your friends, families, groups and organizations together to gather donations and/or cash for the Christmas boxes AND Christmas cards

--Get your friends, families, groups and organizations together to gather Christmas cards If you work in a business where you are able to set out Christmas cards for the public to sign--it's a great way to get the public involved! As always, please proofread all cards!! Veterans' Day is fast approaching.

Please email with all Veterans Programs occurring throughout the area, so that I may include each in next week's newsletter!

God Bless Our Troops and their families back home!See you all very soon!
Nancy Peabody