Special Hugs Project

[diane {Shawns mom}]

 

hug (h g)

v. hugged, hug·ging, hugs

 

v.tr.

1. To clasp or hold closely, especially in the arms, as in affection; embrace.

2. To hold fast to; CHERISH.

3. To stay close to.

v.intr.

To embrace or cling together closely.

The MAS (Molly's Adopt A Sailor) started to see wounded troops and their information coming our way through the website & the idea of the Special Hugs Project was born.  If there are troops who are wounded or injured, they are in need of encouragement & support, too! 

Every project has a story and here is how we came to form & support Special Hugs:

An Army Chaplain at a Combat Hospital in Afghanistan asked us if we could send some cards and snacks to the wounded in January 2011.  Of course we wanted to support them!  Working with the Chaplain, we developed a plan to send something to remind them of home every month.  We’ve done pancake breakfasts, sent cups of soup and instant oatmeal, provided movie nights, sent pillows, provided the fixings for S’mores, even sent a live Christmas tree, and much, much more over the months that followed.

Then our contacts disappeared ...  We had to find new ones!  And, quickly!  Quickly evaporated ...

BUT, then 2 Massachusetts Navy Moms found a surgeon/emergency medicine physician who had recently returned from A’stan.  They met him for lunch and to chat about Special Hugs.  He was impressed with & proud of what we’re doing.  So, on a leap of faith, he was asked to be our “medical advisor” which he immediately & proudly accepted!  It has taken 7-1/2 long months of very hard work to get a new POC in place.

Special Hugs is very fortunate to have Dr. Jim to help and advise us.  He was the vital link in finding our new POC, LCMR Ron!

Each month (will try) Special Hugs will announce a new “Mission”.  Special Hugs “Missions” will consist of shipping only the items requested, & the monthly mission will change.

Our “We Stitch Love Project” will continue to provide and keep track of the number of pillowcases (the kind stitched with LOVE) for each mission, as needed.  It’s our gift to them. ♥  Patients take them with them once they leave the hospital. So, if you are stitching or decorating pillowcases, please contact [e-mail]. Someone will be in touch.

 

 

SPECIAL HUGS

 Carol received this message below....

Please if you can  help out this month-not to interfere with the monthly adoption & shipping-please do!...

They NEED OUR SUPPORT!!! That is all they ask..So let's do it...JUST DO IT

 

"if we could just help with 1 or 2"..WOW, they do NOT know WHO WE ARE....come MOMs.....get into formation and MOVE it..♥  

 

Molly’s Adopt A Sailor

Special Hugs

September Mission

 

 

September has arrived in the sandbox and with it somewhat cooler weather.

 

Our POC has informed me that they are in desperate need of some pillows.  Whatever we can send will be put to immediate use!!  They will also need twin size blankets (extra long twin, if you can find them).

 

Last month we sent pillowcases for female patients; however, their supply of pillowcases to be given to patients when they leave is depleted, except for females.

 

Since we are sending new pillows and blankets, let’s mix it up a bit by making it a special movie night as well.  They could really use a few newly released movies!!

 

So our mission – should you choose to accept it – is going to be a cozy one!

 

Just picture the scene, patients tucked into their beds with nice new pillows, warm, cozy blankets watching a movie and eating some movie type snacks (popcorn, candy, and jello or pudding cups for those on a soft diet).  Doesn’t it warm your heart?

 

Shipping will take place between October 7 – 10

 

 

. Shipping can be done any day this month but not to interfere with our regular shipping

The addresses for the hospitals are being posted in “We Ship Love” and will be updated as we obtain information from our POCs. 

*link for Special Hugs Labels

*  SHLABELS%5B1%5D.docx 

 

**Peanut butter and jelly (packed separately due to possible allergies)  

[Kim (Ethan's Mom)]

I think they would love the ornaments! It will also make it smell more like Christmas for them! You might just label them so they don't take a bite! haha  

[Sarabi2013]

95 cinnamon ornaments and their tags are nearly ready. Does anyone know if 95 is enough??

[Sarabi2013]

One large box filled with cinnamon ornaments, pudding cups, and fruit snacks was mailed to the Special Hugs group today.

[Proud Navy/NYPD Mom (Donna)]

They are going to love receiving your box.  It will even smell like the holidays with the cinnamon!  Thank you for sending this box to them!

[Proud Navy/NYPD Mom (Donna)]

January will mark the half-way point of the deployment of the staff working at our CSH.  I was thinking maybe we might do some sort of morale booster for patients and staff alike.

But before I contact our POC, I'm putting it out to the Moms for some ideas.

So, feel free to start listing some ideas.  We'll pick a couple of choices and then I'll send a message to  find out which would work best and how many we would need to plan for.

Ideas, anyone?????

[Proud Navy/NYPD Mom (Donna)]

Just a quick update re: SH.  Rannie is no longer going to be our POC.  Today I received an automated reply to a message I sent her saying all correspondence/requests to her should be emailed to someone else.  I sent an immediate request to ENS Adam X. asking if he would be our new POC.  Hopefully he will do it until someone else can be found!!

I really have no idea when I will hear back from him -- I only hoping I do hear something!!  So for now any real mission is on hold.

BUT, I was thinking about going back to "our roots"!!  Since this Jan. mission will be getting there in Feb. how about getting some letters, notes & cards and sending them?  In other words, lots and lots of MAIL.  Nothing brings a smile like mail does.  We can get children to draw pictures.  And even further than that - February is Valentine's Day.  That could be our theme!

So Moms, I'm looking for some input from anyone and everyone!  If I get a yes answer we can go further with the idea of Valentine's Day -- cookies and sweets.  But for now, let's consider making a big push for mail.

Are we on for this??  I want to hear from YOU.

[alice]

Hi Donna, sorry haven't been on my sons PIR was last Friday but now things can go back to some normalcy. First Congratulations! Next, count me in for Valentines Day. The kids at school will love it! Are we holding the letters and things for this month until we hear further or are we adding them to the Valentines one?

[Proud Navy/NYPD Mom (Donna)]

I have some not so good news to share.  We've lost our POC connection -- again!!  Rannie was re-deployed (I got an automated message from her email account).  She gave the name and email addy of someone else, but after 2 messages I have still heard nothing from him

We have his name and addy, but without his permission I don't see that we should send things to him unsolicited.  In my second email, I asked him if perhaps the chaplain would be willing to be our POC.  But like I said, I've received no response.

Does anyone have any suggestions?  Know anyone who works with an aid station or hospital?

My last, and only, thought is to try to contact our Dr. Jim and see if he can work some magic for us again.  For you new Moms, Dr. Jim is an emergency department chief at a hospital in MA.  He is also in the Navy Reserves.  Another MA Mom at the time, Sheryl, and I tracked him down, took him to lunch and convinced him to help us get a POC.  It took nearly 6 mos. but it worked  I also learned that our POC Ron from a couple of years back will be in Newport this spring.  He and Dr. Jim and friends - I'm hoping to get the chance to talk to him thru our connection with Dr. Jim and see if perhaps he knows someone in the sandbox who could help us.

All this to say that we are currently on hold.  Please if anyone has a son or daughter who either works in a facility or is a corpsman and could connect us with someone, let me know.

Thanks to everyone in advance.  We all, sort of, knew this would eventually happen with the drawn down of troops, I just wasn't expecting it now!!  If you have any other ideas on what things SH can do to help our special heroes, please leave a comment.  Who knows what will happen when a bunch of moms get talking and tossing around ideas!!

[Whit and Stephen's Mom (Ann)]

Donna -  What if you sent a letter to the Chaplain?  You don't have a name but it might get delivered if you address it to the Chaplain.  He/She must know what joy the boxes bring to everyone in that hospital.  

[Proud Navy/NYPD Mom (Donna)]

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT:  I got an email from our CSH today with the name of a new POC.  Kristin has been going over and looking at past missions and she is just sooo excited to have Moms caring for the wounded there at LNK.

We won't be doing a mission in February as the Monthly Adoption of MAS was just announced and we don't want to take away from that in any way.  There will be a mission for March!!  Hint:  it involves a party!

However, if you want to do something for February - Kristin is planning a b'day party for the sailors and marines born in February.  If you'd like to write some birthday cards feel free to do that.  OR, you can just wait until later this month and be surprised by what they'd like for March!!

Dee and I are still working on another POC at a different facility.  So we may go to 2 places.  Very exciting since we went from being on hold to being back at what we do best -- Sending Mom Love!  <3

[Proud Navy/NYPD Mom (Donna)]

HINT.  HINT.  HINT.

We will be having a February mission (which will be sent in March).  Just a hint, they'd like cake.  There's more to report but I just waiting on an email from Kristin.

So anyone have any ideas about sending a cake???  There would be too many to do cakes in a jar.  So we need another idea!

[Proud Navy/NYPD Mom (Donna)]

There is a NEW SPECIAL HUGS DISCUSSION!!  It is Special hugs - beginning 2014.  This is just to make it possible for me to update the missions myself and make it lots easier on Diane. 

Just be sure to answer in the correct discussion, please!!  :)