Kim Sloan, LAVFW, receives a certificate of appreciation from George Bidwell (right), President of SaddleBrooke Troop Support.
Moose Creighton (L) presenting a certificate of appreciation to the Scoutmaster of BSA Troop 270
George Bidwell
The holidays are fast approaching; that time of the year we spend enjoying family, friends, feasting and all the joys of the season. It is also a time of reflection and giving thanks for all that we enjoy, including our freedom. This is the freedom that is protected for us by those brave men and women of our various military branches, each and every one of whom, when they signed up, wrote a blank check made payable to the United States of America and us, its citizens, for an amount up to and including their lives.
That’s where SaddleBrooke Troop Support (STS) comes in. All too often our troops and veterans find themselves in a bind, perhaps due to an extended deployment or unexpected emergency, unable to pay rent or utilities or buy food, even possibly facing eviction. We regularly supply three Military Food Banks and during the holidays we supply food cards to many active military and veterans in need and their families. We would like to do more in this area!
The STS supplies soda, snacks and comfort items to the Military Liaison Office (Transit Lounge) at the Tucson Airport, a rest and relaxation area and sometimes a sleepover room for traveling troops and their families. On average 5,000 troops and veterans per year take advantage of this service and when you add in any family traveling with them, the actual number of people being helped is higher.
We also work with the VA Hospital and administer the Blind Veteran program as support for recovering vets. In addition we provide layettes for new babies of our military families.
Additionally, we work with VFW Women’s Auxiliary, and they with us, identifying troops in distress and providing short term relief where needed. Recently STS presented Kim Sloan of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (LAVFW) a Certificate of Appreciation for her help and coordination with STS.
We also presented a Certificate of Appreciation to Boy Scout Troop 270 of the Lutheran Ascension Church for collecting two carloads of food for the military in need. The food collected by the Boy Scouts was delivered to the Military Food Banks (MFB) by Moose Creighton, our MFB Committee head.
With the holidays fast approaching, the indications are that more of our veterans will need our support to help them have a nice holiday, too. Unemployment compensation for many of the veterans is beginning to run out, making their livelihood more precarious.
SaddleBrooke Troops Support is a registered 501(c)(3) charity. 100% of everything donated to us goes to support our troops and is tax deductible. Receipts and or stamped donations slips are provided for all donations. Cash donations can be taken to the SaddleBrooke branch of the Bank of the West. Just tell them it is for the SaddleBrooke Troop Support.
Won’t you help us to help our military have a holiday that is merry and bright? Contact us at our website saddlebrooketroopsupport.com or Beth Bradford at [email protected] to donate or join our group and help us continue to thank our military for all that they do for us!
Thank you! v