Sometimes Hope is a Knock on the Door

Today, two large trailers left Mainstreet Grill and Bar in Stafford, VA to make their way north to areas devastated by Hurricane Sandy.  The trailers were loaded with supplies donated by individuals, companies and organizations in the Stafford area.  Supplies included cases of bottled water, cleaning supplies, diapers, clothing, tools and more. 

Our staff met the volunteers just north at a gas station to make sure that their tanks were full and handed over gas cards to pay for the rest of their trip.  We also handed them the names and addresses of wounded service members who need assistance. 

Hope For The Warriors® staff has contacted service members and military families in the New York/New Jersey area to check on their safety and needs.  As a nonprofit that works with wounded service members, we are better equipped than other organizations to meet the unique needs of our military families.  In addition to the service members that we already know, we also receive phone calls daily from VA caseworkers.  The need among wounded service members is great right now.

Thank you to Crissy and Christopher, owners of Mainstreet Grill and Bar and Adaptive Consulting & Training Services for answering the call from Hope For The Warriors® to help.  They have given time, money and energy to help others.  Christopher, a member of the Bull Run Chapter of the Rough Riders, has been joined by other members of the motorcycle club to make this work possible.  We thank all of the volunteers who have helped to organize and deliver donations.  Finally, thank you to all in the Stafford area who purchased and donated.

And in case we are unsure if this help is needed, many staff members started their morning with an email from the spouse of a wounded service member.  The family lives along the New Jersey coast and this morning, she shared:

"We finally got power back after nine days...One day last week, I had a knock on the door from a group of firefighters from North Carolina who were here on behalf of Hope For The Warriors®.  They were so nice!  They left us water, cookies, towels...it was so thoughtful and we are so grateful!"

We try to provide hope in many ways.  Thank you to so many volunteers who are helping us provide hope to these families.

Mainstreet Grill and Bar will continue to collect donations so people in the Stafford area should continue to bring bottled water, cleaning supplies, diapers, tools, "D" batteries, work gloves, waterproof boots and clothing.  (Other clothing is not needed.)

If you would like to help our military families, please text "Warriors" to 20222 to donate $10 to Hope For The Warriors®.  Donations can also be made online.