Submitted by American Legion Post 256

"As I look around the room, I see the faces of all of you who helped Hugs for Our Soldiers touch the lives of 2,800 deployed troops from October to December alone," said Kathy Orcutt to American Legion Post 256. "This $500 donation you have given Hugs today will allow us to send care packages to our troops right here in our back yard - our 'Citizen Soldiers' of the 278th Tennessee Army National Guard."

 Orcutt went on to say to the Legionnaires, "Hugs just shipped 1,900 Valentine treats, along with several thousand cards from people across our nation, to our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Our Girl Scout Cookie Drive has kicked off and, believe me, the soldiers have told us that getting Girl Scout cookies in a care package is like receiving Christmas in spring!  So buy an extra box of cookies for a soldier, marine, airman or sailor, give it to Hugs and we'll make sure this taste of home gets shipped overseas."

Vonore's American Legion Post 256 has been supporting Hugs for Our Soldiers for three years now.  Members of this Post were the core committee to Hugs' first Welcome Our Soldiers Home project in 2008 focused on the single soldiers returning home to barracks that were empty of everything.  Hugs' President stated, "Our success of being able to put a snack bag on 1,400 soldiers' beds, toiletries in their bathrooms, and a new towel and washcloth hanging on their shower doors was due to the hard work and dedication of American Legion Post 256.  They helped us promote this project, collected items and made monetary donations." 

Since 2008, more than 7,000 soldiers have been recipients of Hugs' Welcome Home program and Post 256 has been a driving force in helping this program grow.

Hugs for Our Soldiers will introduce a new program called "Give a Hug" to support our troops as they leave home for Afghanistan or Iraq.  Please visit the Web site (www.hugsforoursoldiers.org) to learn more about this, as well as the Girl Scout Cookie Drive. For additional information about the American Legion, contact Post Commander John Allen, 423-884-7297.