AAR: Military Appreciation Night, 6/22/2010

I could hardly wait for it to get here. Last year, we just had a table at Military Appreciation Night on Memorial Day. This year, we were able to do more than just have a table. I learned some lessons, made some mental notes from some of the volunteers who had done this sort of thing before.

We got there early. Thankfully, Amber had a tent we could use to give a little shade to the donation table.Yeah, with the setting sun, the donation table wasn't actually under the tent ;-)Amber and her young volunteers and Ellen and her soldier-home-on-leave husband, Stacy, and Melissa manned the donation table outside. We even had people make donations who didn't need tickets to the game! It's wonderful to see how generous people can be when it comes to out troops.I joined Doug and his son, Nate, inside at the information table. Thanks to Amber for the flare and to Melissa for some of the materials to share with fans.

Things did slow down once the game got started. Everyone manning the donation table packed it up about an hour after the game started since there weren't really a more people showing up to get in. While we weren't buried in donations, we did get a respectable amount and we were able to help spread the word about the amazing work Soldiers' Angels does.I do want to again thank everyone who volunteered: Amber and her young helper, Melissa, Ellen and her (very tired & jet-lagged) husband, Stacy, Doug and his (working on his Eagle project) son, Nate. This couldn't have happened without your help. I also want to "express" a HUGE thanks to Laura Fragoso and the Round Rock Express for giving us this opportunity to reach out to the fans at the Dell Diamond.

Soldiers' Angels Mobile

There is an exciting, easy new way to donate to Soldiers’ Angels. If you have a cell phone with text messaging, all you have to do it text “SOLDIERS” to 20222 and you will donate $5 to Soldiers’ Angels. That’s it. It’s that easy. Spread the word!

You can also sign up for the SOLDIERS ANGELS Mobile Support Club. You'll get up to 4 monthly alerts & updates on events, projects, soldier stories, support needs & much more, right on your mobile phone! Of course, standard text rates may apply.

I don't care if I never get back

We're less than a week away from our Military Appreciation Night out at the Dell Diamond. The Express have announced it on their website now. As mentioned in the first announcement:

If you are close to Round Rock, Soldiers' Angels and the Round Rock Express are partnering up to collect donations for Care Packages, Vet Packs and First Response Backpacks. On June 22nd, their second Military Appreciation Night of the season, fans can bring care package items to a table set up outside the Home Plate gate at the Dell Diamond. For each donation item, the Round Rock Express is providing one free general admission ticket (limit 10 tickets) for the grass berm in the outfield. Soldiers' Angels will have an information table set up inside the ballpark, as well.

So, grab a blanket, a few donation items from the list and head out to the Dell Diamond for an enjoyable evening of Triple-A baseball as the Express take on the Albuquerque Isotopes. First pitch is 7:05 (but be sure to be there for the singing of the National Anthem!), and gates open at 6:05pm.

You might not need a blanket, though. I've had a chance to ask about it, and the rocking chairs under the Home Run Porch out on the Left Field Berm can still be reserved (on a first come, first served basis) for only $5 each again this season. Bring the kids, let them play around on the grass while you relax in the shade with your feet up, sitting in a comfy rocking chair. Don't forget to bring a glove, you might get a chance to catch a home run ball, too! The weather should be great, and we look forward to seeing you there!

Hire a Hero Soldiers' Angels Project SAVE: Support a Vet's Employment

The Pepsi Refresh Project allows ordinary people to vote for their favorite projects that will have a positive impact on the community. Each month brings a new set of projects. This month, Soldiers' Angels is one of the projects. All you have to do is go to the page for Hire a Hero - Soldiers' Angels Project SAVE Support A Vet's Employment. Soldiers' Angels is competing for $50,000! Only 10 projects will be selected, so we need your votes, every day, from now until June 30! Currently, Hire a Hero - Soldiers' Angels Project SAVE Support A Vet's Employment is in 57th place. We've got a LONG way to go to get into the top ten. Please share this with everyone you know: share it with your email contacts, your facebook friends, tweet about it!