SPECIAL HUGS ..... as of 2014

[Proud Navy/NYPD Mom (Donna)]

Finally we are updating our Special Hugs page to reflect our last group of doctors, nurses, corpsmen and staff.  POC John is the one on the far right with the lid on. This update isn't fancy, but it will make it easier to post the monthly mission within the discussion at the top.

A new medical team arrived in January.  Our POC is Kristin, a nurse & the morale officer. Her addy will be posted in the usual place. This team will continue the work with those suffering from traumatic brain injury, serious surgical patients who cannot travel yet and the long term patients who live in the "Wounded Warrior" berthing area - most of them suffering from PTSD.

They arrived with the cold weather & reports are that the pillows and blankets recently sent were being put to great use. Everyone had what they needed. There were many extras so they sent them to several Aide Stations!

Each month Special Hugs (aka SH) will announce a new "Mission." Missions will consist of shipping only the items requested and the mission will change monthly.

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 is our gift to them. <3 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.

 

OUR APRIL MISSION (to arrive in May)

NO YOU ARE NOT SEEING DOUBLE!!

Our mission for April is much like March's mission!  But we had to expect that the mission would revolve around Memorial Day and what is commonly linked with Memorial Day are picnics or cook-outs.

So what they could use from us, are items such as paper products, picnic food (chips, pretzels, corn chips, cupcakes, candy, etc.)

We should probably consider some decorations as well!

Of course, we will need to send birthday cards!!  There are 4 birthdays in May. I'm still waiting to hear #'s of men or women celebrating their special days. 

Shipping can begin anytime during the first 2 weeks of April so that the items reach POC K. before Memorial Day.

Please let me know how many packages you will be sending and what you've included so we can try our best to get what they need.  I can then let Kristin know how many boxes are coming and she can plan accordingly.

So let the exchange of ideas begin!  And the planning start!!

PS:  You may have read my comment on the main page, but there are 4 mothers at the CSH presently.  I thought, if anyone was able or interested, they might want to send 4 Mother's Day cards to Kristin for distribution at the "Mother's Day Pancake Breakfast".  Cards can be put in one envelope and sent to Kristin.

We are not planning to help with the b'fast, but if you wish to contribute anything they can use some pancake mix and syrup.  AGAIN, we are not doing a mission for Mother's Day, it would interfere with the MAS adoption.  This is just an FYI.

[2catsn2sailors]

Sorry, Pat. I looked and looked and looked some more, but I cannot find the address for the Feb. SH.

I found Jan. and March for SH, and the Feb USS Shoup adoption POC, but no address for the Feb SH.

[Pat L. in IL]

Just sent you a PM with the address.

[Proud Navy/NYPD Mom (Donna)]

Thank you Pat!  Things have been overwhelming last week.  Hopefully things are settling down and into a routine.

[Sarabi2013]

Got one box shipped today. It contains St. Patrick's themed napkins, cups, cookies, and Little Debbie cakes.

[Proud Navy/NYPD Mom (Donna)]

Let me ask about books. For the most part they have very little storage space so I really don't know what to say.  I'll check with our POC and get back to you - same for the notebooks.

[Proud Navy/NYPD Mom (Donna)]

Oh, they are going to have such a wonderful party!  Thank you for helping!!!

[Denise (Dee)]

I had 1 box go also w/St Pat wall decorations, static clings, napkins, beads, hats, headbands and some green treats.

[Proud Navy/NYPD Mom (Donna)]

Thanks Dee!  Sounds wonderful.  Our POC is "promising" pics!  Hoping to see some hats and/or headbands.

[Proud Navy/NYPD Mom (Donna)]

I was very surprised to receive the following message from our POC. Packages are arriving and they are excited.

Good morning Donna,

Hello from the "stan". We are excited! We received 3 care packages from you all yesterday: one with St. Pat's décor/candy from Melody B., one with
sheets/pillowcases from Maureen D., and one Carol, Max and Buttercup P. 
These packages are all greatly appreciated. (smiles)
Our birthday party will be a fun morale night for both our surgical company and our patients. The patients are invited to come and
participate if they are feeling able. 
The first box from Melody has 2 cups filled with goodies for our 2 birthday people in March. I will send pictures of the party to
you if that will be ok.

Thank you all so much for all you do for us.
I will email when more packages arrive.

Sincerely,
Kristin

[carols_kitchen]

Buttercup was pretty excited to be mentioned. She did sniff around everything that went into the box. She also sits by my feet when I type my letters.

[Proud Navy/NYPD Mom (Donna)]

Love it!!

[Proud Navy/NYPD Mom (Donna)]

 We received a nice long note from our POC this morning.  And it sounds like we'll be getting pictures very soon.  Can't wait!  But here's her note:

 

Good Morning!

Yucky snow, I certainly don't miss that.
We had our birthday celebration this past evening and it was a blast. We
took a group photo and I will send it to you when I get a copy.
Thank you for all the party stuff/food. And please thank the other "moms"
for us. I think I remembered to either send emails or cards to them. We have
received 6 boxes so far.
The birthday party for April will be Saturday eve, the 26th of April and it
will be an outdoor BBQ theme. We plan on approx. 5 birthdays, 3 male and 2
female. And we plan for 72 people.
We are allowed one party per deployement to get food from the chow hall such
as hamburgers/hot dogs. So we are using our one time for April. We will need
to gather party plates, plastic ware, napkins, cups/ and chips/pretzels,
etc. Anything for an outdoor BBQ would be greatly appreciated. The weather
is getting warmer here and we will soon be in the low 100s by summer.
Maybe chocolate can come in for about one more month then I think it will be
too warm.
Hope this helps with the planning.
Thank you for all you do and we really appreciate that you back home remember us
here in AFG.
We currently don't need any personal hygiene supplies. We received a box of
sheets from Maureen D. but I don't have her address or email. Can
you please thank her for us? 

Very Respectfully, 
Kristin