Holidays for Heroes, which takes place every Christmas and Valentine’s Day was founded in 2006 by the Military Moms Prayer Group. The basis of this community driven event is to ship gift packages to the troops so they know they are not forgotten. The gifts themselves are full of wonderful items such as: – powdered drink mixes, nuts, microwave popcorn, peanut butter (in individual packets), dried fruit/raisins, wet wipes or baby wipes, eye drops, protein bars, granola bars, beef jerky and socks. All of these wonderful and easy to preserve items make a big difference in the day of our troops but the real profound moment is when the soldiers read the cards that are enclosed. Local elementary school children have contributed hundreds of handmade cards in addition to the handwritten letters inserted by those who participate in doing an individual box throughout the month of November.
Since 2006, more than 12,500 packages have reached the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan in time for the holidays, thanks to this community-wide outreach. Over the past several years, the dedicated groups of military moms have made it even easier for residents to help with the cause and after this past week of box assembly over 1,000 boxes were shipped this season!
First, the Military Moms Prayer Group has created a special Holidays for Heroes mailing kit. Each kit contains a list of recommended items to send to the troops; a flat-rate box with customs forms pre-addressed to an individual serviceman or woman in a war zone or at sea; and an instruction sheet. These boxes are available only in the month of November at a number of outlets throughout the county. The cost at the Post Office for mailing the box to an APO or FPO address is $15.90 and when mailed from Pak Mail Beachside a free 1 hour calling card is inserted. Next, drop off items and the Military Mom’s Group will mail them for you. Boxing Day takes place the first week of December each year and over 100 boxes were composed this past week. These boxes included all the goodies listed above plus much more like DVDs, calling cards, feminine products and gummies galore.
This year, the group was blessed to team up with RodMickley, White Glove Moving, & Pak Mail Beachside to assist in the assembly and packing of the boxes. Due to the age and aliments of many of the volunteers, the moms found a need for a temporary assembly venue that did not have stairs. Rod Mickley was kind enough to offer up his warehouse space next door to White Glove Moving who helped all the logistics of the 3 day chore. Pak Mail Beachside was a box host this year and also helped make every box that much more special by putting a free calling card into each box compliments of their efforts in the Cell Phones for Soldiers campaign. “This was one of the easiest years for our campaign thanks to the help of all our local businesses and residents. But being able to set up and use this space for Boxing Day made it a real joy!” raved Lynn Marie St. Vincent.
The Military Moms Prayer Group meets from 5-6 p.m. Thursdays at Christ Church Vero Beach, 925 14th Lane, Vero Beach, FL 32960 (behind Outback Steakhouse and beside Vero Bowl). The group includes those with relatives in the military and “cheerleaders” who simply have a mom’s heart for the troops. New members are always welcome. Interested in joining the Military Moms Prayer Group or helping with the upcoming Chocolates for Heroes campaign in the month of January? Call 772-231-2221
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