Stockings for Soldiers
by Mary Jo Hellwarth
OPERATION CHRISTMAS STOCKINGS FOR SOLDIERSOur Second Annual “Stockings for Soldiers” Campaign has begun. You can send our soldiers a little taste of home for the holidays. W.H. Dick & Sons-Hellwarth Funeral Homes are proud to be once again participating in the annual Veterans & Family Memorial Care “Christmas Stockings for Soldiers” initiative. From now through November 30th you may stop in to pick-up a Free Christmas Stocking to take home, decorate and stuff with Christmas Cheer. You will receive a list of recommended items along with the free stocking, and you may also wish to include a note of support. W.H. Dick & Sons-Hellwarth Funeral Home will then ship the stockings, to troops abroad in time for Christmas. “This is a great way for us to show our support for the troops by giving them some holiday cheer, said Mary Jo Hellwarth, Funeral Director.
This year, the funeral home has partnered with groups from the Mendon United Methodist Church. The Quilter’s Group has sewn stockings to be filled and the Mission Group is assisting as well. There will be an additional pick-up and drop off location for the stockings this year. Mary Godwin at Jim’s Harley Davidson at 7172 State Route 707 in Mendon has offered to handle stockings for the Mendon area.
Stockings may be picked up or dropped at the following times. At W.H. Dick & Sons-Hellwarth Funeral Home in Celina, 9-5 Monday Through Friday, and 9-12 Saturdays. Hours for Jim’s Harley Davidson are 9-5 Monday through Friday and 9-4 on Saturdays. If alternate times are needed, please call the funeral home at 419-586-2301 or 419-795-4435. If you wish to provide your own stocking, please use the following list as a guidline. The filled stocking may be dropped off at either the Celina or Mendon locations listed above.
List of Recommended Items- Candy Canes
- Hard candy, Jolly Ranchers, etc.
- Chewing Gum
- Mints
- Multivitamins, vitamin tablets or drops
- Moisturizer
- Lip Balm
- Shampoo
- Eye Drops
- Sun Block
- Batteries- AA and AAA
- Deck of Playing Cards
- Crossword Puzzles
- Dominos
- CD’s & DVD’s
InstructionsPlease limit sizes of items so that they will fit inside the stocking. You do not need to purchase all items on the list, these are only suggestions. All items must be non-perishable. Most are available at low cost at Dollar Stores. Place items in the stocking, fold over the top of the stocking and secure closed with a safety pin so that the items inside do not fall out. You may wish to add a greeting card or a note of support.
Thank you for your support!!!As part of their membership in Veterans & Family Memorial Care, W.H. Dick & Sons-Hellwarth Funeral Home is also an official drop off center for Cell Phones for Soldiers. Please bring in your old cell phones to help our troops call home this holiday season. VFMC Providers nationwide have collected enough old cell phones to provide the troops overseas with over One Million FREE calling minutes. W.H. Dick & Sons-Hellwarth Funeral Home is located at 218 West Market Street in Celina.