‘Touching and overwhelming’
Local businesses, community groups mailing love to the troops
The 2018 Adopt the Troops for Christmas campaign has wrapped up for another year, and the outpouring here on the South Shore has been incredible.
It’s organized by the Greenwood Military Family Resource Centre (GMFRC), a not-for-profit charitable organization that has been serving the military families of 14 Wing Greenwood — as well as the reserve units of Bridgewater, Yarmouth and Aldershot — for more than 30 years.
For the last 17 years, the GMFRC has worked hard to ensure deployed troops know they are thought of often and feel supported by their community at home. This is especially important during the holiday season, when it’s particularly difficult to be away from home.
This year on the South Shore, the campaign saw many new organizations extending their support — making it the most successful campaign in years.
Lori Lundy, coordinator of Deployment Services for GMFRC, says the response and support this year from Bridgewater and its surrounding areas has been “truly touching and overwhelming.”
“Not only did we receive monetary donations, but the schools, daycares and community groups — such as Brownies and Girl Guides — took the time to create cards and crafts for us to include in the Christmas parcels,” says Lundy. “The gifts, cards and crafts will be greatly appreciated by our deployed members, and will surely put a smile on their faces when they get to open them at Christmas.”
Lundy says military families and members of the GMFRC are sending out “a huge thank you” to every business, school, daycare and community group for their generosity, thoughtfulness and support for the 2018 Adopt the Troops for Christmas campaign.
Once all of the donations were received in Greenwood, an army of volunteers were tasked with making sure each gift bag was filled, properly labeled for each member, boxed up and addressed to their location around the world. These packages were then sent along to a distribution centre in order to ensure they would be delivered in time for the holidays.
These brave men and women can be anywhere the Canadian Armed Forces are currently deployed, and these packages will certainly make their time away from family and friends at Christmas a bit easier.