To the Editor:

As we approach Memorial Day, the Helderberg Hearts and Hands Club would like to invite you to support our active-duty military service members. Four times a year, the students, parents, family members, and community volunteers partner with Operation Adopt A Soldier to pack bags of snacks to send to the courageous men and women who are serving our country overseas.

Our goal for each packing event is to provide 300 service members with a bag of snacks and a note of support and encouragement from home.

The snack bags include individually wrapped cookies (6-packs of Oreos work best), granola and chewy bars, gum, Slim Jims, beef jerky, packages of six crackers, hard candy, individual bags of nuts and/or trail mix, and individual packages of drink mixes (for a bottle of water).

When funds allow, we include packs of playing cards as they are always welcome. The cost of the supplies for each packing event is approximately $700.

If you would like to support our efforts to recognize our service members with a small token of appreciation, please stop by at our table outside of the Stewart’s Shop in Altamont on Saturday, May 7, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. with a donation. Donation of snack items and/or monetary donations would be greatly appreciated.

If you would prefer to send a donation to support the June 12 packing event, please send your check, made out to HFCO, to Post Office Box 115, Knox, NY 12107. Donations may also be sent by Venmo: @HelderbergFCO. Please write “soldier” on the memo line for both checks and Venmo.

Thank you to all our veterans and to those currently serving and their families. We appreciate your service and sacrifice.

Maryellen Gillis

President

Helderberg Family and

Community Organization