Issue link: https://imageup.uberflip.com/i/1433027
CLUBS & GROUPS | LIFE IN SOLERA | DECEMBER 2021 | 25 First, I would like to thank all those who came to the Support Our Troops Extravaganza Fund Raiser, with special thanks to Marty and Diana Mangan. Thank you to all the volunteers who put on the program. The funds raised, are a real shot in the arm. The raffle prizes were great, and the music was superb. Solera certainly has some great talent. Over the years, I have learned to start Christmas planning for our service men and women, in late October. The first project is to start our Christmas card writing project. All cards had to be submitted no later than December the first. I will then start mailing batches of cards, in large postal envelopes to our contacts. They in turn will pass them out to their service men and women. I should be able to give you the number of cards sent, in the January issue of Life in Solera. The next Christmas related item is to start including packets of about 15-20 un-written cards in quart size Ziploc bags, in all our care packages. This gives the service members cards, in time that they can mail them home to family and friends. Next comes mailing Christmas decorations to the troops. The closer to Christmas, the more bogged down the military mail becomes. It's important for the troops to get the decorations in time to be able to enjoy them. Almost all of the small non-breakable decorations and mini-lights are purchased at after-Christmas sales. The same is true for boxes of Christmas cards. I store all Christmas items from one year to the next, in our small client controlled storage unit, donated by Beaumont Self Storage. They play an important part in our troop care package project. One of our "super shoppers" has moved away from Beaumont. The number of boxes of mini-lights and boxes of Christmas cards has dropped drastically. Especially the boxes of lights. All during this pre-Christmas time, we don't slack off on sending our usual packages, cards, letters and emails. My contact information is: 996 Ironwood Road, (Corner of Bridges Drive), jdd39@verizon. net and 951-892-6635. You are the ones that make this all happen. Thank you for caring. ~ Jesse Donardt SUPPORT OUR TROOPS