Blue Star Moms Operation Holiday Cheer kicks off today

The 19th Annual Operation Holiday Cheer kickoff will take place TODAY at 10am at the RI State House, State Room.

Lieutenant Governor Sabina Matos will be joined by Governor Dan McKee, Senator Jack Reed, Major General Christopher Callahan, Rhode Island Blue Star Moms, and business leaders to announce the 19th Annual Operation Holiday Cheer.

This annual event, started by former Lieutenant Governor Charles Fogarty, calls for volunteers and business leaders to help send a piece of home to our Rhode Island military personnel who will be serving out of state or overseas this holiday season.

As always, we need family members and friends to provide their loved one’s name and address to ensure that we include all Rhode Islanders serving during this time. Please send them to Grace Sneesby in the Office of the Lieutenant Governor at 401-222-2731 or [email protected].

Our Blue Star Moms need specific items to fill the boxes for our active military personnel. A complete list of items requested and quantities needed can be found here: https://bit.ly/RIOHC21

Due to the ongoing pandemic, all monies raised will go towards the RI Military Relief Fund, which helps active Rhode Island service members in all branches of the United States military: Rhode Island National Guard, Air Force and Air Force Reserve, Air National Guard, Army and Army Reserve, Army National Guard, Coast Guard and Coast Guard Reserve, Marine Corps and Marine Corps Reserve, Navy and Navy Reserve, and Space Force.  

Partners in the campaign are the Rhode Island Chapter of the American Red Cross; Rhode Island Blue Star Moms, Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association 9-1, Rhode Island Military Family Programs, and the United States Postal Service.

Corporate Sponsors include Amica Mutual Insurance; Adler, Pollock & Sheehan P.C.; The Home Depot (Coventry); Duffy & Shanley; Saddlebags for Soldiers; Finlay Extracts & Ingredients; and Navigant Credit Union.

Participating at the kickoff event will be:

Governor Dan McKee

Lieutenant Governor Sabina Matos

Senator Jack Reed

Representative Camille Vella-Wilkinson

Major General Christopher Callahan, Rhode Island National Guard

Mayor Ken Hopkins, City of Cranston

Mary Grace Marceau, President, Rhode Island Blue Star Moms

CPT Erik Wallin, Esq., Executive Director of Operation Stand Down RI

Director Kasim Yarn, Office of Veterans Affairs for the State of Rhode Island

LTC Sharon Harmon, State Family Program Director, RI National Guard

Jeanne Jackson, Rhode Island Postmaster General

Susan Roberts, Director of the Rhode Island Chapter of the American Red Cross

Beth Healy, Sr. Director of Military and Intl. Services, American Red Cross

_____

The group is also seeking cash donations.

Please make checks out to the Operation Stand Down with Rhode Island Military Relief Fund in the memo line.

Checks can be mailed to:
Office of Lt. Governor Sabina Matos
c/o Katia Lugo
RI State House
82 Smith Street, Room 116
Providence, RI 02903

Suggestions of what the group needs for donated items

For moere information on the Rhode Island Military Relief Fund, go to: https://ltgov.ri.gov/initiatives/ri-military-family-relief-fund

For more information about RI Blue Star Moms, go to: www.ribluestarmoms.com