On July 19th thirty-one members of the Arizona Chapter of MOAA together with Youth for Troops, US Vets Phoenix and Veterans First met at Sagewood Retirement Community to hold the fourth annual “Freedom Isn’t Free” event.
Using the funding provided by the MOAA Foundation Community Outreach Grant Program plus additional funds from the Arizona Chapter, the following was achieved:
50 Care Packages (25 Food/25 Hygiene) – Youth for Troops mailed to deployed active duty troops overseas. Our MOAA chapter volunteers also worked on the Plastic Mats for Homeless Veterans Project plus decorated boxes and wrote appreciation cards for deployed troops.
15 Move-In baskets – U.S. Vets Phoenix given to veteran families. The move-in kits help get the veterans off to a good start when transitioning from homelessness to a home with items such as detergent, towels, dust rags, kitchen and cooking items, etc.
41 Backpacks for Children of Veterans in Crisis – Veterans First, LTD. Focusing on women veterans in crisis and to assist their children in being ready for school. This year’s backpacks were for kindergarten and 1st grade students:
- 15 Veteran Families
- 21 Families of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom campaigns
- 5 School Social Worker for underprivileged Children.
The Arizona Chapter of MOAA is proud of its accomplishments of working in partnership again (fourth year) with these local non-profit organizations to benefit Arizona service members globally and Arizona veterans locally.
