Gold Star Packages
12/23/11
While his association with Soldiers’ Angels began
last year in pain and sorrow, this holiday season Angel and Gold Star Father
Steven Ward is paying forward the comfort and support he received. With the
help of his local community, he has sent 425 holiday care packages to
Afghanistan in honor of his son. “I gave him reason all his life to always give
back,” Steven says, and he continues to set that example to those in his
community.
In February 2011 when Steven’s Marine son was killed in Afghanistan, Soldiers’ Angels showered him with hundreds of cards and letters full of condolences and comfort. Steven was overwhelmed. Seven months later he wanted to get involved with the organization that had given him so much, so joined the Cards Plus Team and later the Letter Writing Team.
Every winter Steven, who owns a chain of barbershops in Washington, chooses a charity project to sponsor during the holidays. This year he chose to support the troops in honor of his son, and asked Soldiers’ Angels for a list of 200 names to send care packages to. Instead, he receivd 425. “That panicked me,” he says. “A lot.”
But Steven knew what to do—he reached out to other organizations that he had worked with in the past and that he knew were working on care package projects for the troops. Those organizations, plus friends and fellow Gold Star Parents in Washington each took responsibility for groups of names, covering about 100 care packages of the 425 needed.
To meet the goal of sponsoring the remaining 325 deployed heroes for the holidays, Steven put a giving tree in each of his barber shops with names of troops on it. Customers were encouraged to take a name and contribute items for a care package, sponsor an entire package, or take home a box and fill it themselves before bringing it back for Steven to ship.
Even with all the help, Steven still came up a bit short on postage for the last 200 boxes. The word went out via local TV station KREM and within two days Steven had what he needed to get everything out the door and on its way to Afghanistan! He said the hardest part was just addressing and filling out the custom forms for all those boxes.
This holiday project is likely just the beginning of Steven’s Angel work. He donated the last quarter of his proceeds from eBay sales to Soldiers’ Angels and now is looking at applying to become a Community Network Coordinator so that he can take on an official leadership role for Soldiers’ Angels in his community.
Huge Angel thanks go to Steven for his continuing commitment to support the troops amid his grief. What strong wings this new Angel has!
In February 2011 when Steven’s Marine son was killed in Afghanistan, Soldiers’ Angels showered him with hundreds of cards and letters full of condolences and comfort. Steven was overwhelmed. Seven months later he wanted to get involved with the organization that had given him so much, so joined the Cards Plus Team and later the Letter Writing Team.
Every winter Steven, who owns a chain of barbershops in Washington, chooses a charity project to sponsor during the holidays. This year he chose to support the troops in honor of his son, and asked Soldiers’ Angels for a list of 200 names to send care packages to. Instead, he receivd 425. “That panicked me,” he says. “A lot.”
But Steven knew what to do—he reached out to other organizations that he had worked with in the past and that he knew were working on care package projects for the troops. Those organizations, plus friends and fellow Gold Star Parents in Washington each took responsibility for groups of names, covering about 100 care packages of the 425 needed.
To meet the goal of sponsoring the remaining 325 deployed heroes for the holidays, Steven put a giving tree in each of his barber shops with names of troops on it. Customers were encouraged to take a name and contribute items for a care package, sponsor an entire package, or take home a box and fill it themselves before bringing it back for Steven to ship.
Even with all the help, Steven still came up a bit short on postage for the last 200 boxes. The word went out via local TV station KREM and within two days Steven had what he needed to get everything out the door and on its way to Afghanistan! He said the hardest part was just addressing and filling out the custom forms for all those boxes.
This holiday project is likely just the beginning of Steven’s Angel work. He donated the last quarter of his proceeds from eBay sales to Soldiers’ Angels and now is looking at applying to become a Community Network Coordinator so that he can take on an official leadership role for Soldiers’ Angels in his community.
Huge Angel thanks go to Steven for his continuing commitment to support the troops amid his grief. What strong wings this new Angel has!
In what is becoming a holiday tradition for all involved,
the USO at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport once again
received a boost of support from local Soldiers’ Angels.
On Tuesday, the height of the rush of service members
expected, Community Network Coordinator Dianne Moore led a team of Angels to the
USO, bearing gifts. With support from corporate headquarters, the Georgia Angels
supplied the USO with $1000 worth of hot drinks, soups and basic supplies.Diane
reported, “The goodies bought by Soldiers' Angels were well received and
appreciated!” 
Send our
military kids some love while their parent is away!