Because of the generosity of the Traverse City community, Oleson's Food Stores and the Harley Owner's Group (H.O.G.S.), the Salvation Army will be able to provide food for many less fortunate neighbors and families this season, wrote Major Bruce Jennings of the Traverse City Corps Command and Community Center.
"We appreciate each person's contribution, whether time, talent or resources," Jennings wrote. "Our hat's off to the men and women of the Harley Owner's Group Northern Chapter who volunteered and collected food at the Oleson's stores; the owners and staff at Oleson's Stores who are annual supportive participants in the drive; the local individuals who donated over two tons of non-perishable food so that many who might otherwise have been hungry will have needed resources at the Salvation Army Pantry; and Classic Motor Sports, WCCW and WTCM radio (stations). With the Traverse City community's efforts, we will continue doing the most good for those most in need throughout the year. God bless you."
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What sounds like a good way for people to let U.S. military personnel recovering at Walter Reed Hospital know that the American people care about them turns out to be not such a good idea when examined more closely.
A lovely woman called on Monday wishing to share a way to let U.S. soldiers recovering at Walter Reed Hospital know that the American people care about them. She didn't want to give her name, but she felt it was important for people to know that she had heard or read that cards could be sent to "A Recovering American Soldier," and gave the mailing address for Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C. She couldn't remember exactly how or where she found the address, but her concern for our American military personnel was evident and she had already sent at least one card from herself and her husband.
In doing some additional checking, we discovered that an e-mail began circulating in October asking recipients to add "A Recovering American Soldier" to their Christmas card list and giving Walter Reed Hospital's mailing address. The e-mail also suggested forwarding the e-mail to others in the recipient's address book.
What seems like a wonderful idea really isn't. The cruel reality is that due to concerns for the safety of military personnel recovering from injuries at Walter Reed Hospital, a policy was instituted in 2001 designed to improve security. Under this policy, Walter Reed Hospital can't accept mail addressed to "Any Wounded Soldier" or "A Recovering American Soldier," and the U.S. Postal Service won't deliver any cards, letters or care packages addressed that way.
On the Army News Web site, Lt. Col. Kevin Arata, a spokesman for Army Human Resources Command, addressed the issue and suggested that members of the public wishing to spread holiday cheer should consult the military's "America Supports You" Web site, www.americasupportsyou.mil, for information about more than 300 nonprofit organizations dedicated to helping U.S. soldiers and their families.
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The lives of children across northwestern Michigan were touched with the recent success of The Big Soiree, the second largest annual benefit for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Michigan. Proceeds from the fund-raiser totaled more than $38,000 raised through online auction early bidding and at live auction events.
Donations and representation poured in from across the area served by the agency including Antrim, Benzie, Charlevoix, Emmet, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Leelanau, Manistee, Missaukee and Wexford counties, making the Big Soiree a truly regional event.
Since the estimated cost per match is $1,000, proceeds from the event are equivalent to sponsoring services for 38 of the 350 children currently matched with mentors, wrote Christie Carlson, development director with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Michigan. These services include professional match supervision, extensive volunteer screening, services for families, and group activities and educational services.
For details about sponsoring the Big Soiree or the annual giving campaign, including Adopt-A-Match, call Carlson, 946-2447, or visit the Big Brothers Big Sisters office, 521 S. Union St. in Traverse City.
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Recently more than 600 northern Michigan residents, including breast cancer survivors, took steps in the right direction at the American Cancer Society's "Making Strides Against Breast Cancer" five-kilometer walk in Traverse City, raising $55,000 to fund breast cancer research, provide up-to-date breast cancer information, ensure all women have access to breast cancer screening and treatments (regardless of income) and to provide services that improve the quality of life for patients and their families.
For six years, Making Strides has been part of Traverse City and has raised a total of more than $175,000 for breast cancer research and services. Sponsors of this year's event include Grand Traverse Woman Magazine, WPBN TV 7&4, 106 WKHQ, Real Estate One and Merit Energy.
For more information about breast cancer, contact the American Cancer Society, toll-free (800) ACS-2345, or visit www.cancer.org.
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Michigan Community Blood Centers recently released the names of blood donors who reached new gallon levels.
They are: one gallon -- Steve Alexander, Stephen Beckowitz, Brandon Blackburn, Kevin Brokaw, Jan Cerro, Kristen Cronk, James Dixon, Megan Golden, Gerald Guenthardt, Carol Hart, Lacee Hartzell, Patrick Heintz, Michelle Holcomb, Gretchen Keith, Julie Kimpton, Shane Kleinrichert, Edward Krajewski, Kristin Levesque, Marion Martin, Nancy Mesrobian, Lindsey Murray, George Prewitt, Daniel Probst, Debra Schmidt, Rachel Stein, Ronda Virta, Kellyanne Waldorf, Amanda Welch, Daryl Webster and Kimberly Weis; two gallons -- Michael Brigham, Mark Davey, Steven Evans, James Harris, Roberta Lakin, Jason Maday, Michelle Ray, Janet Taber, and Diane Talicska; three gallons -- Betty Byler, Phillip Case, Priscilla Cogan, Linda Dalzell, Edward DeLisle, Clarissa Johnston, Tamara Kukuczka, Randall Perry, Matthew Phillips, Scott Tilford and Thomas Walczak; four gallons -- Shelly Campbell, Myla Dinger, Mark Fowler, Wendy Fox, Brenda Helminiak, Andrea Hengesbach, Deborah Kolk, Juston Korson, Kenneth Nash, Melissa Schichtel, Wendall Schrock and Ken Weiss; five gallons -- Chris Boydston, Connie Holmes and Elizabeth Tyson; six gallons -- Jeannie Halanski, W. Logan Hardie, T. Michael Jackson, Larry Larson, Cynthia Miller, Arlene O'Brien, Judith Prokup, Wayne Taylor and Gail Westover; seven gallons -- Ronald Fischer, Carol Jones and Mary Narum; eight gallons -- Philip Cochran, and Larry Smith; nine gallons -- James Dargo, and Douglas Pedersen; 10 gallons -- Janice Blackburn, Rainer Reichert and Lynn Wright; 11 gallons -- Corliss Smith; 12 gallons -- Gene Krogel; and 20 gallons -- Robert Meyer.
Items for this column may be sent to Northern Notes, Record-Eagle, P.O. Box 632, Traverse City, MI 49685-0632; e-mail sbeach@record-eagle.com.
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