The MacKay Sposito Veterans Support Council organized a company-wide gift card drive last month, and last week Eric Abbott and Pam Hoerle had the pleasure of delivering over $2,400.00 worth of assorted gift cards that we had collected to the Joint Services Support/Family Programs team (J9) at Camp Murray in Tacoma.    They received quite a reception and were able to meet most, if not all, of the J9 Team.  The J9 folks were very appreciative of our donation and presented MSi with a Certificate of Appreciation plaque.   

J9 is designed to be a one-stop center for all Washington Guard veteran and family readiness services.   They oversee transition services, state family programs, and a resiliency care team.  J9 manages programs that provide Washington's Warriors, veterans, and family members support services that enhance their well-being as well as promote their productive military participation.   The gift cards go to personnel or their families that are in need.  The holidays are a particularly tough time for military families that have someone deployed.

J9 posted the following on their Facebook page later the same day. 

We salute MacKay Sposito for stopping by the JSS today with more than $2,400 worth of assorted gift cards, accumulated by their staff, for our Holiday Magic program and for emergency situations for in-need service members.

J9 says they will continue to share stories of how the gift cards positively impact the service personnel who contact them for assistance.    We can look forward to reading those!

Al Schauer, a Vietnam veteran, may have summed it up best:

“I am very touched by the generosity displayed by MSi and all who contributed to these gift cards for our service personnel and their families. The feeling of sacrifice and risk cannot be fully appreciated unless you have experienced it yourself. Although I am sure those here who have contributed are aware that our way of life here in the U.S. has been due to the many sacrifices endured by our military. 
May the cards find their way to those who need and appreciate them.”

I can’t top that one. 

A BIG THANK YOU to all who contributed to this effort.