Growing up I would hear stories about my uncle who was killed in action in 1968 during Vietnam War. It seems my uncle became a soldier, not because his father was one or his father before him, but because he believed in our country and what it has always stood for. My uncle believed that our freedom was a gift.

We would always hear funny stories about my Uncle Mike and even though he was no longer with us, it was like he was around.  Every now and then at a family gathering we would hear “It would have devastated Michael” to come home and see this country in turmoil; especially how our soldiers were treated when they came home from this war. Some of my family members did not know if my Uncle Mike could have handled it.

Although that was a different time and this country was a different place, I made a promise to my Uncle Mike.   I wanted to do everything in my power to let the men and woman that serve our country know that they are supported no matter where or how they served us.  At the age of seven I didn’t know how I would fulfill my promise to my uncle but I knew if there ever came a time I would do what I could.

My chance to make good on that promise came in 1991. While I was a student in Junior High, this country became involved in the Gulf War.  I wondered what could I do…I didn’t know but I knew my heart would lead me. During that time I found that the Sunday paper advertised all the local men and women addresses that were currently serving. Every Sunday I would steal the Sunday paper, run up to my room and begin writing; nothing huge just simple hello’s and thanks for what you are doing. Sometimes I heard from the soldiers and sometimes I didn’t, but that really wasn’t the point.  It was just to let the soldiers know that someone outside their circle of family and friends was thinking of them.

 After 9/11 I was once again faced with a challenge, only this time it was a much greater challenge. The names and address were no longer posted anywhere and all the information was classified. This was understandable for security reasons. I was able to keep get in touch with a couple men and women via email all of whom were friends of friends. Then one evening I received an email that my sister passed on ….it was a request from a Captain serving in Afghanistan who wanted to surprise his troops. He wanted to give his men and women a surprise; he was requesting small boxes. The “boxes of hope”, as I have come to call them, contained simple things, but would be a great gift to someone that was far away from home during the Holidays. What started out as a simple e-mail to friends and family traveled across many miles and dropped right into my lap.  I knew this was it!!   I responded to the request immediately and sent as many things as I could. I continued to do this even after the holidays. Thankfully, all the soldiers returned home safe in May of that year but then I was able to get in contact with a couple other soldiers who took their places.

My goal has just been to keep the ball rolling. Most of the soldiers make it home and you never hear from them again, but that is what is supposed to happen. There are thousands that are next in line and they all need support.  I continued my efforts in sending package especially over the Holiday seasons. The following year I sent approximately 600 packages over. Although this was growing and I was financially strained I thought these soldiers were giving a greater sacrifice, and the least I could do was to say thank you.

 This year I had the two units I was going to help. I thought how many could it be?  I requested to speak to their Chaplin and to let them know what I would like to do. Could they use some extra support? If so, could they please send me approximate numbers? (You are not permitted to know exacted numbers for security reasons). Both of the Chaplins' responded with a resounding YES and then the numbers started to come in!! 3100 men and women!!! I thought that I would just do the best I could and put out an email to all my family and friends. Then maybe they would be able to get support from their business and/or churches. I thought if we could just make a dent….

At that point we were in mid –July of this year and I thought I had plenty of time. I then received an e-mail from a friend, who is currently serving, that basically said: “Hey thanks, but there is no way you are going to get that much support.” I have yet to figure out if he felt the task was too great or truly felt that way, but I was extremely upset! Did he really feel that there was a lack of support for the soldiers?  That thought made me very sad.  I became determined to supply 3,100 men and women “boxes of hope” for Christmas.  From that point on it seems the emails just came flooding in. One morning I woke up to 30+ emails and thought it was a mistake!   It was not! The e-mails were from people that had heard what I was doing and were either requesting extra support for fellow servicemen or family members that were serving! How could I say “No” to a mother that just wanted to give the gift of hope and love to her son or an officer that wanted to give a soldier some support because he or she had no one from home behind them?

The e-mails have yet to stop! I had to explain to these people that I could not promise them anything except that I would do my best and that I was a single person, with a couple friends trying to help. That was when I realized I needed help from the public and corporations. I wanted to show our service men and women that we have not forgotten them and we do support them no matter what.

So that is the story of how this organization got started…just a few people trying to send “boxes of hope” from home to the men and women who are putting their lives on the line 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

We have begun to reach out to the public and they are responding. Children and adults alike are coming together to help those that they have never met. We do not do this for political reasons or to get something back.  We do it for all the soldiers (past and present) that have always given us our most precious gift – freedom.  What could be more fitting than to repay them?