Weekly Newsletter 12/07/2008

Greetings!!!
It feels like December 26th today!

"Christmas" with HHAFFA is over--the Christmas Boxes have been packed and sent, the Christmas Cards have been written and sent, the Christmas Tree is all decorated on the Bedford Square, the Christmas Parade is over, and it's time to relax--or is it?????

We do have a few plans for the near future:

--we are planning to send another round of boxes in January/February to our deployed servicemen using a VERY generous donation from GM employees. We will include, among other treats, sunflower seeds, crackers, and peanuts donated by Frito Lay and Dollar General Stores.

--we will continue to send cards and letters to our servicemembers throughout the year.

--we will continue to be there for servicemembers and for their families back home!

I need to thank quite a few people before I go:

--I hope you saw the newspaper this morning with the HHAFFA float on the front page (with Lisa Sallade smiling sweetly at the camera!). Thanks to the 30 people who braved the cold to walk and ride! Many people contributed to the making of the float, but an extra special "Thank You" goes out to Chris and Lisa Sallade, Larry Arnold, and Royce Peabody.

--The Christmas Tree is aglow in the gazebo in Harp Commons on the Bedford Square. Go by in the evening and see the beautiful red and blue lights! We had so many stars that we made a garland across the front with most of them! Go find your loved one's star or icicle! Thanks to Mike Cain and Woodcrest Farms (Pinhook Rd) for donating the beautiful Scotch Pine! Thanks to Mark and Kim Johnson, Wayne and Mary Umphress, Joe and Betsy Henley, and Royce Peabody for help in setting up and decorating the tree. It was a perfect setting for putting up the tree--the air was crisp, it was snowing, and we were all laughing and having a great time! And because of the preparation on Tuesday, we were finished in record time! On Tuesday, we made 61 stars, tied them to ready-to-hang red bead garland, tested lights and gathered materials. And decorated the tree on Saturday in 21 minutes!!!!! A BIG thanks to those who helped on Tuesday: Judy Gootee, Tammy Lee, Chris and Lisa Sallade, Mary Umphress, Joyce Daugherty and family members, Kim Johnson, and Betsy Henley.

I'm certain I have missed out saying "Thanks" to others who should be thanked and recognized for their participation in our organization. PLEASE let me know if I have left out someone who needs to be thanked! I understand how busy people are, I definitely understand how tired everyone is at the end of a day, but I also realize that this organization would disappear quickly if we didn't have people willing to serve! So a HUMONGOUS "THANKS" to you--the volunteers!

Mike Cain (and Woodcrest Farm) again participated in the "Trees for Troops" program. He donated 6 trees to be sent to servicemembers in the US and around the world. He thought his trees may be headed to Bahrain. He told me that he heard of a ship that had one of the program's trees--can you imagine a decorated Christmas Tree on board a ship? I love it!!

Please continue to keep us updated on addresses.
Please continue to keep all our servicemembers in your thoughts and prayers!

God Bless Our Troops and their families back home!
Have a restful holiday season!
Nancy Peabody

Weekly Newsletter 11/30/2008

Happy Holidays! We are truly in the middle of our holiday celebrations at HHAFFA! We've packed boxes of goodies (97 of them!!) and boxes of Christmas cards (24 of them!!), and we are down to two activities!

--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 and stars! BYOS (Bring Your Own Scissors!) 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 6 pm, we will be participating in the Bedford Christmas Parade. We will have a trailer to ride in, or you can walk beside it! Dress warmly, carry signs, and be ready to show that "We Support Our Troops"--PLEASE show up to ride (or walk) if at all possible! We are Unit #74, and line up begins at the corner of 15th and M St.

-A BIG Thank You to Larry Arnold, Chris and Lisa Sallade, Wayne and Mary Umphress, and Royce Peabody who spent Saturday afternoon decorating the trailer for the parade!

-Remember the Hoosier Hills Chapter of the American Red Cross has the capability to send videos from family to service members! The service member does not have to be overseas even. Just make an appointment by calling 275-5162 Monday thru Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Videos can be made after office hours - in fact, probably would be more convenient.

-The Hoosier Hills Chapter has also received a grant from DOD to expand SAF services to our military families in this area. In January, a Vet to Vet Meeting is planned. (Vet to Vet is a meeting for vets who are having trouble adjusting to civilian life. "We are here for ourselves, and for you, when you are ready for us. Many times a Veteran will not ask for help until he or she is in crisis. We have a common bond. We got into this together and we will get out of it together."). "Getting to Know Us Before You Need Us" meetings for families of new recruits are planned at least once per month at different times and also in Martin and Orange counties. If any of you want to volunteer to help schedule, get refreshments, publicize, and maybe even facilitate any of these meetings, please let Betsy know. The Hoosier Hills Chapter also needs AFES caseworkers to carry a pager either during the week or on the weekends to take any after hour emergency calls. Make a New Year's Resolution to get involved in supporting military families in this area!

REMINDER: if you have anyone serving overseas, we will send a phone card if we have a current address! PLEASE keep us posted on any address changes! It is very discouraging to receive returned boxes, cards or letters due to a change of address of which we were unaware!

Thank you, again, to all who made the "Christmas Boxes for Troops" and the "Christmas Cards for Troops" such a success!! I hope to see all of you at the Christmas Parade!!

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