The Nonprofit, Soldiers’ Angels runs a Halloween Candy collection program. The program signs up local businesses like dental offices to agree to accept excess Halloween candy in exchange for goodies. The candy is then collected and sent to troops and veterans. Visit Soldiers’ Angels to find a drop off location near you. It is too late to sign up to be a drop off point this year but check back in August, 2020 if you would like to be a collection point. This is a great way to get rid of all the candy your kids collect without all the tears. Many young ones are happy to “Support the Troops”.
“May No Soldier Go Unloved” is the motto of Soldiers’ Angels and founder Patti Patton-Bader saw first hand the need for soldiers to feel loved. The daughter of a Korean and Viet Nam war veteran, she established the nonprofit when her son, Staff Sgt. Brandon Varn was deployed to Iraq and shared stories that he was one of the few receiving care packages from home. Determined to turn this heartbreak around, Patti marshalled the troops of her family and friends and soon every soldier in the platoon was receiving a care package.
Since that time “Soldiers’ Angels has become one of the highest rated nonprofits in the country. The group aids those serving in all branches of the military, their families and to Veterans. Almost everything raised, 96.5% goes to the organizations programs to provide support. It meets all 20 standards for accountability with the Better Business Bureau and awards from GreatNonprofits and Charity Navigator. Soldiers’ Angels has thousands of volunteers which they call Angels. In 2018, the group provided $25 million in aid, sent 28659 care packages and 177,307 letters, supported 24,000 Veterans with food aid, distributed 39,995 items at VA Hospitals. Over the holidays adopted 1637 families and provided 1,165 baby boxes to spouses and active duty female service members. Volunteers logged an astounding 164,524 volunteer hours. You can see why they are rated so highly as a charity.
This worthy cause has a variety of ways you can help. Visit the website and make monetary donations online or by mail. Ask if your company makes a matching gift or contribute through the Combined Federal Campaign. Host a Fundraiser or consider planned giving in your will. Drink a Beer, look for Craft Breweries that participate in Hops for Heroes and down a Homefront IPA. Soldiers’ Angels is one of the beneficiaries. There are a variety of other ways you can support this cause such as donating a car or shopping at Amazon. Even little things can make a big difference.
May No Soldier Go Unloved,
May No Soldier Walk Alone,
May No Soldier Be Forgotten,
Until They All Come Home.™
Marguerite Cleveland is a freelance writer who specializes in human interest and travel stories. She is a military brat, a veteran and now a military spouse. Her military experience is vast as the daughter of a Navy man who served as an enlisted sailor and then Naval Officer. She served as an enlisted soldier in the reserves and on active duty, then as an Army Officer. She currently serves as a military spouse. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two sons. Visit her website www.PeggyWhereShouldIGo.com
When my son was in Iraq I sent packages every month. Not only to him but to all the soldiers in his unit. I did have help, as friends discovered what I was doing they would leave donations on my front porch. A note would be attached to direct where it was to go. I once was shopping at Wal-mart for some requested items and a disabled vet inquired why I was buying a certain item, when I told him it was to go to Iraq he asked if he could contribute I told him he had given enough. I saw tears in his eyes when he told me that he had served in Nam and never got anything from home. I then reached my hand out to accept his offering. I did not look at it until I returned home and was surprised to see 5 20s folded. As I finished packing the box I received a phone call asking if they could pay the postage on the package. Later I received a call asking me to send a cake in a jar to her son and a gift for his birthday. The cake was baked and a present was included in the next package, you see his birthday was on Christmas Day and she wanted to surprise him. There were 16 soldiers in the group and all of them received a gift. Later they all pooled their money and I received a thank you phone call from all at once. No soldier was unloved that year. I had adopted all of them. God is good. One loving Mom