STS Board member Joe Rink and President D.A. “Bo” Nanna
Colonel Rett Benedict (U.S.A.F. Retired)
Our most recent meeting provided members with a great view into the activities of a local group that helps both active-duty military, veterans and their families, the SaddleBrooke Troop Support (STS). President D. A. “Bo” Nanna spoke to the group giving us a brief history and overview of STS programs. STS was formed in 2005 and has five core programs. One of the most active programs is their food security efforts that provides over $12,000 worth of food to three local military food banks. The funds come from individual donors, most of whom are SaddleBrooke homeowners, and local businesses.
STS supports the Veterans Administration patients extensively from providing books on tapes for blind veterans to participating in the VA Hero’s Welcome program as explained by Joe Rink, an STS Board member who accompanied Bo. This program makes sure that whenever a military related patient is checked into the VA hospital, they receive a visitor from STS or other supporting organization within 24 hours of admission to provide help to the patient ranging from fetching, ice to lending an ear to hear the veterans story. Some STS members are going down once a week to provide this assistance, real dedication. The response of the veterans has shown that this is a great program.
Another of the STS programs provides baby layettes for military families with new babies. As was explained to those of us who did not know what a layette is, it is a basket of clothes and other sundries that a newborn can use; very helpful to mothers in the military and/or in a military family.
Across the board, the STS generates about $25,000 per year of assistance, all raised from donations that go 100% to the people they are meant to help. Truly a great contribution by the 40 members of the group and all the donors that they work with!
As usual our group takes a long summer break, so the next meeting will be held on Saturday, October 21, 2017 in the East Room, MountainView Country Club, 38759 S. MountainView Boulevard, Tucson, Arizona 85739, phone 818-1000; speaker to be announced later.
For additional information, contact President Colonel Rett Benedict at 825-7424, [email protected] or Colonel Tom Owens, MOAA Tucson President, 760-3476, [email protected]. Check website: www.tucsonmoaa.com for information.
The Catalina Mountains satellite is part of the Tucson Chapter and encompasses northwest Tucson to include Catalina, Oracle, parts of Oro Valley and Marana, SaddleBrooke and Sun City.
The Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) is a nonprofit veterans service association dedicated to maintaining a strong national defense and to preserve the earned entitlements of members of the uniformed services and their families and survivors.