The Christmas season is once again approaching, and I for one am so glad to have something joyous to look forward to. This hasn’t been the happiest year for a lot of us, and a season of hope for a brighter tomorrow is just what the doctor ordered.
As many of you know, when the war began, I started a charity called Embracing Military Families. It’s been a long war on several fronts, and while we’re drawing down in one arena, we still have troops defending our freedom and in the line of fire. And most of these brave men and women left families behind.
It is my mission to ensure that these families get to share in the excitement and wonder of this most renewing season, despite the fact that their loved ones won’t be home.
This economy has been hard on most of us, and our military is no exception. For many of these families, working two or three jobs is the norm, and when one member of the family is deployed, there is often a significant loss of income. And for many of these families, repeat deployments are the norm.
Last year, through your generosity, we were able to provide 1,000 toys to brighten the hearts of our littlest warriors at Ft. Benning. And through our “adopt a family” program, we were able to ensure that the neediest among our families were able to provide Christmas for their children. And for the first time, last Christmas, we were able to help the family of a wounded warrior.
This year we’ve been asked to provide close to 2,000 toys and several extremely needy families have already been identified through the counselors at the schools on post. We also hope to expand our outreach to the wounded warrior families in the Atlanta metro area.
None of this, however, is possible without your support. You have been so generous in the past and I cannot thank you enough. But there is still work to be done and I am counting on you to once again open your hearts to these most deserving families.
Several businesses and organizations in the area have most graciously agreed, for your convenience, to be drop-off centers for toys. They include the French Club at Starr’s Mill High School, Massage Envy in the Kedron shopping center, The Animal Medical Clinic on Ga. Highway 74, Summer Breeze Pool Supply in Peachtree City and Fayetteville, World Gym on 74 and 54, Fayette Senior Service Center in Fayetteville, Monkey Joe’s in Newnan, Carrabba’s in Peachtree City, DHL Express at Hartsfield/Jackson, the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce, the CAF Hangar at Falcon Field and Y-Knot Sports Bar in Peachtree City.
Should you wish to adopt a family, or write a check, or drop off toys at my home, feel free to call me at 770-487-0672.
With so many things out of our control these days, it’s so rewarding to know that, at least for the children of deployed soldiers and wounded warriors, we can make a difference. Thank you in advance for your support and God bless!
Cathy McMullen
Embracing Military Families
Peachtree City, Ga.
