The American Red Cross has a long history of providing comfort and support, in addition to emergency communication and other Red Cross services, to members of the U.S. Armed Forces, veterans, and their families. In New Jersey, our Service to Armed Forces (SAF) volunteers are committed to being active on Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, holding social activities at numerous veteran memorial homes and VA hospitals around the state and helping coordinate collections for Comforts of Home care packages by fellow Red Cross volunteers.
With the necessary safety measures in place to protect people during the pandemic, many of these activities were put on hold. But plans for several, thanks to creative thinking and dedication by the volunteers involved, were able to move forward with safety as a priority.
Comforts of Home Packages The Red Cross of Northern New Jersey Board of Directors considered if and how they could possibly revise plans for their annual Adopt a Unit collection of items for military care packages and large pack-up event with family members and co-workers. That’s when Board member Jay Beasley stepped in with the support of his fellow employees at Verizon, along with a large warehouse facility that could accommodate a socially-distanced pack-up, to take the lead for the campaign this year during the pandemic.
To all it was important, and so very appreciated, that Jay and his Verizon team would continue the Board’s tradition to send care packages filled with holiday cheer, including personal care items, playing cards and puzzles, and an array of comfort foods like granola bars, pretzels, cocoa and candies to the men and women who serve our country.
WATCH VIDEO Thank you Team Verizon!
Incredible SAF Team As the traditional in-person events at state veteran memorial homes and VA hospitals were put on hold, our SAF volunteer teams pivoted to some very creative drop-off 'event in a box' activities. Gardening, Pumpkin Decorating, Hot Chocolate and Cookies, Thanksgiving decoration crafts and mini-pies, Root Beer Floats, Cider and Donuts, Puzzles and Memory Books are just some of the fun activities the volunteers delivered. The team also provided veterans with Care & Comfort Bags along with cheerful cards and amazing posters which let the veterans know how much they are loved.
Our SAF Team found creative and safe ways to continue helping military members and their families at the Joint Base as well. Some of their volunteer work included preparing more than 1,670 Care & Comfort Bags which were distributed to service members in quarantine upon arrival at the base. Volunteers also continued to coordinate generous donations of items for the food cupboard at the base and made them available to military families through a contactless, drive-through pick-up.
With training sessions made available virtually, many of our SAF volunteers participated in Professional Development Training, Preparedness Training and Lifesaving Training programs, all while continuing to provide military members and their families with emergency services and valuable information about Red Cross services.
While these dedicated volunteers continue to show their appreciation to military members, veterans and their families, we wanted to take a moment to let them know how much the Red Cross loves their dedication and compassion to helping others.
Happy Valentine’s Day to all our wonderful Red Cross volunteers!
Learn more about how we help military families through Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces