Image Up Advertising & Design

| LIFE IN SOLERA | MARCH 2025 | 35 Our care package program, which started in 2005, has just passed our 5,500th care package sent. When a package is received, it is usually shared by a group of service members. Can you imagine just how many people you have touched? When we first started, we were sending to troops in Iraq, then Afghanistan and Kuwait. Now we are supporting our service members all over the world, as well as ships at sea. Early in our program, we had many of our soldiers, request that rather than send items to them, could we send things for the children of that country. In addition to sending food and snacks to the troops, we began sending packages, containing "hand out" candy, toys of all sorts, and Beanie Babies by the hundreds. When some soldiers asked if we might send children's clothing, we did it in a big way. I made contact with a very large, church run thrift store, in Redlands, that gave away used clothing to the needy. Most of what they gave out was to adults. They often accumulated a lot of children's clothing. I offered to take the excess children's clothing off their hands. It was a "win-win" situation. It was not uncommon to send 30, 40, and even 50 pound boxes of children's clothing. Our soldiers would set up thrift markets, in their free time. There, the mothers would be able to select items for their children. I even once received an email from a Lieutenant Colonel, Doctor in Afghanistan, introducing himself, and saying he had heard from a 2nd Lieutenant in Kuwait about what we were doing. He asked if he might receive some children's items, that he could distribute. He was put on our mailing list, and received several large boxes also. Some giveaways were as simple as placing the items on blankets, upon the grass or gravel. Other sites, consisted of tables and blankets in a row. Often, our soldiers would adopt schools and orphanages, in their area. They would take the toys, clothing and schools supplies directly to these locations. Today, our service men and women are on large fixed bases, with little or no contact with the locals. It is just as well, as today's postage costs prohibit it. Our soldiers are the most giving in the world. Thank you for caring. ~ Jesse Donardt SUPPORT OUR TROOPS VETERAN ASSISTANCE FLAG BRIGADE Billy (Mitch) Mitchell is a resident and Veteran who has voluntarily worked with individuals and the Veterans Administration to assist Veterans in obtaining benefits. If you are a Veteran and want to know which benefits you may be eligible for, contact Mitch at (951) 797-0800. The Flags were raised for Martin Luther King Day, January 20 th. The Flags were also raised on Feb. 17 for Presidents Day. The Flags will be raised on March 29 th for Viet Nam Veterans Day. Thank you to those few dedicated resident volunteers who are up at the crack of dawn on these special days to put up and take down our flags. Contact Nick Gercis for the Flag Brigade at nick.gercis@gmail.com. Flag schedule for 2025 Viet Nam War Veterans Day: Sat., March 29 - up 3/28, down 3/31 Armed Forces Day: Sat., May 17 - up 5/16, down 5/19 Memorial Day: Mon, May 26 - up 5/23, down 5/27 D-Day: Fri., June 6 - up 6/5, down 6/9 Flag Day: Sat., June 14 - up 6/13, down 6/16 Independence Day: Fri., July 4 - up 7/3, down 7/7 Labor Day: Mon., Sept. 1 - up 8/29, down 9/2 Patriots Day: Thurs., Sept. 11 - up 9/10, down 9/15 National POW/MIA Day: Fri., Sept. 19 - up 8/18, down 9/22 Veterans Day: Tues., Nov. 11 - up 11/10, down 11/12 Pearl Harbor Day: Sun., Dec. 7 - up 12/5, down 12/8 To all veterans, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!!

• Cover