Lieutenant Governor Matos, RI Blue Star Moms Kick Off 23rd Annual Operation Holiday Cheer Donation Drive for Service Members
PROVIDENCE, RI – Lieutenant Governor Sabina Matos, the RI Blue Star Moms, state officials, community partners, and sponsors today kicked off the 23rd Annual Operation Holiday Cheer Donation Drive and encouraged Rhode Islanders to donate time or goods to help our military service members celebrate the holidays.
“Operation Holiday Cheer is an important opportunity for Rhode Islanders from all walks of life to join together and show our support for the military service members stationed away from home during the holidays,” said Lieutenant Governor Matos. “Thanks to the generous donations of local businesses, schools, and nonprofits, we plan to ship over 300 care packages to our troops this year. I invite all Rhode Islanders to help us ship a little taste of home to the service members keeping us safe this season.”
“As a proud mom of a service member, I know how deeply we all want our children to feel supported and remembered, especially when they’re far from home,” said Jennifer Dyer, President of the Rhode Island Blue Star Moms. “That’s why we put together care packages each year for military members from Rhode Island who will be away during the holidays. These boxes are more than just gifts; they’re a hug from home.”
Operation Holiday Cheer is an annual program which sends care packages to Rhode Island service members stationed away from home during the holidays. Operation Holiday Cheer is conducted by the Lieutenant Governor’s Office and made possible by the partnership and hard work of the RI Blue Star Moms, the RI National Guard, Operation Stand Down RI, the United States Postal Service, and the American Red Cross of RI.
Boxes will be packed at the US Army National Guard Armory in Cranston on the weekend of November 15th and 16th. The program relies on the generosity of individuals and corporate and community sponsors who provide in-kind or financial contributions, as well as volunteers who will help pack the boxes. Corporate sponsors and individuals wishing to donate goods, money, or time can visit ltgov.ri.gov/ohc to learn how to donate and what items are being requested.
To ensure every service member stationed away from home gets a box, the Lieutenant Governor Matos asks Rhode Islanders to share the names and addresses of friends or family members who will be deployed away from home over the holidays with the Office of the Lieutenant Governor at 401-222-2371 or ltgov@ltgov.ri.gov.
