Lynne Moore
Support Our Troops monthly meeting took place on Aug. 9, with 40 people in attendance. We currently have 178 paid members of SOT. You do not have to have been in the military to be a part of SOT, and if you have a relative presently serving in the armed forces, let us know. We would love to be able to support them.
In July we sent out 39 boxes of goodies to deployed troops in Egypt, Germany, and combat waters. So far this year we have sent out 184 boxes. These items are bought by our SOT shoppers, and are gratefully received by those who are deployed. We also mailed out beautiful cards made by the Robson Ranch Sassy Stampers, with personal notes written by SOT members.
In addition to our two big fundraisers each year that help enable us to send those boxes to the deployed, we also receive money from Amazon Smile and Kroger. If you are not enrolled in either of these programs, look into joining them. Besides our shipments, we also donate to charities here at home that include Patriot Paws, Fisher House, and Intrepid Fallen Heroes. All the funds raised by SOT are used to support the men and women in the armed forces and to these charities.
The fall brick drive for the Veterans Park is underway now. If you want to order a brick before Veterans Day, please submit your order by Sept. 24. Printed forms are available in the clubhouse, or you can call Darin Burk at 309-530-1124 to order.
This month’s speaker was Paul Bastaish, a Veterans Service Officer with the Dept. of Veterans Affairs. He had 25 years of service in the Air Force when he retired, so he is a vet himself. He pointed out to us that many times the return of a service member from active duty to civilian life can be a tough transition. To make an appointment, you can call 940-349-2950. They have five locations in Denton County. Since many of the families here at Robson have active service members, this information could be very useful. You can also contact the Veterans Services at dentoncounty.gov.
One of our biggest fundraisers is coming up on Veterans Day in the Clubhouse, Nov. 11, concurrent with the RR Choirs Patriotic music concerts. Our Silent Auction always has wonderful items that include gift cards, wine, and liquor baskets, handmade items, jewelry, and so much more. This year the auction will be live and in person, and we so look forward to having the folks here at the Ranch being as generous as always.
The Young Men’s Service League from Argyle will also be helping in our auction this year, so it will be a truly community-wide event.