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Last year's Christmas packages included many donated items to be packaged and sent to troops overseas. The packages were assembled at the Franklin Inn, but this year's festivities will look different due to the coronavirus pandemic. (Courtesy Photo)
lessLast year's Christmas packages included many donated items to be packaged and sent to troops overseas. The packages were assembled at the Franklin Inn, but this year's festivities will look different due to the
... more
Last year's Christmas packages included many donated items to be packaged and sent to troops overseas. The packages were assembled at the Franklin Inn, but this year's festivities will look different due to the coronavirus pandemic. (Courtesy Photo)
lessLast year's Christmas packages included many donated items to be packaged and sent to troops overseas. The packages were assembled at the Franklin Inn, but this year's festivities will look different due to the
... moreUPPER THUMB — With the holidays just around the corner, the Michigan Blue Star Mothers Chapter 178 recently got the green light to continue sending packages and letters to troops overseas and stationed at various locations across the United States, after the coronavirus pandemic put a hold on outgoing mail and monthly meetings.
Pat Rogers, who has been involved with the local chapter of the Blue Star Mothers since before its official creation in August 2005, said the group plans to send cards and Christmas packages on Dec. 5. The group is asking the community for additional addresses of those serving in the military who would enjoy receiving mail.
“We are a diverse group of mothers and grandmothers of veterans, active duty military members, and young soldiers in basic training,” Rogers said. “Our local chapter is made up of around 20 members from Huron, Tuscola, and Sanilac counties.”
Throughout a normal year, Blue Star Mothers also give cards and personal care items to veterans in nursing homes, lay wreaths on the graves of local soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan as well the graves of veterans buried at the Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly, Michigan, march in local Memorial Day and Fourth of July parades behind the veterans, and hold fundraisers to cover the cost of sending packages and supplies.
“Everything we do is to show support of our troops and honor those who have served,” Rogers said. “We are also a support group for military mothers.”
Prior to the pandemic, Blue Star Mothers held monthly meetings at the Franklin Inn. These meetings served as an opportunity for members to update each other on their military children and families, as well as goal setting for the upcoming month. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, most of their meetings since March have been canceled.
“We attempted to have a couple meetings when we were able to, with masks and socially distancing, but we found that a lot of members weren’t comfortable meeting under the current precautions,” Rogers said. “The Franklin Inn has been wonderful, giving us the space to socially distance amongst each other and other customers, but for now we are moving forward with virtual meetings.”
“We recently had our first online conference call meeting, with most of the members able to attend,” she added. “It was nice to hear those long-awaited updates and reconnect with the other military mothers.”
The pandemic has also put a hold on the Blue Star Mothers regular fundraising events. Homemade dinners provided once a month from October to April at the American Legion in Port Austin is one of the group’s biggest fundraisers that has had to be canceled due to inability to socially distance and adhere to the coronavirus precautions. According to Rogers, these events have fed upwards of 120 people who donate to the group.
The group is also unable to accept many item donations during the pandemic, to avoid spreading the virus further.
“I was recently able to make a delivery of socks and a card to the veterans at Fiddler's Green, however with heightened precautions recently I don’t think we will be able to do that for some time,” Rogers said. “In the past, we could go in and spend some time talking with the veterans, but things are so different now.”
“My heart breaks for the family members who can’t visit their loved ones in nursing homes during this time,” she added.
Despite the additional pandemic precautions, each veteran at Fiddler's Green was able to receive socks and a veterans card from the Blue Star Mothers as a small sign of appreciation.
Support for Blue Star Mothers and monetary donations to go toward package and mail shipments can be sent to Blue Star Mothers of America Inc., Thumb Chapter MI 178, P.O. Box 64, Bad Axe Michigan 48413.
Military addresses can be sent to the above address or emailed to BSMthumb178@hotmail.com for future mailings by the local chapter.
November 28, 2020 at 01:54AM
https://www.michigansthumb.com/news/article/Blue-Star-Mothers-able-to-send-mail-to-troops-in-15758278.php
Blue Star Mothers able to send mail to troops in time for holidays - Huron Daily Tribune
https://news.google.com/search?q=Send&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en
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