Military Friends Foundation Responds to Call for Holiday Help for the Massachusetts National Guards’ 379th Engineer Battalion
BUZZARDS BAY – The Military Friends Foundation, a non-profit proudly serving Massachusetts National Guard, Reserve and Gold Star Families, received a call from a Family Readiness Group that they were searching for support to ship the holiday packages they were putting together for the more than 180 members of the National Guard’s 379th Engineer Battalion.
Today more than 500 pounds of magazines, cd’s, handmade ornaments from a local Girl Scout troop, and countless amounts of candies, snacks and toiletries were shipped as part of a Military Friends Foundation grant. “We appreciate the Military Friends support to our troops – for soldiers it’s a huge morale booster to know that your community cares about you and your family,” said Warrant Officer Candidate Paulo Baganha, the 379th Rear Detachment Commander. Many members of the 379th Engineer Battalion, who are stationed in Afghanistan, are on their second deployment. The same unit was deployed in 2003 to Iraq.
The Military Friends Foundation supports Massachusetts National Guard, Reserve and Gold Star Families in times of need. The Foundation proudly administers the Massachusetts Military Family Relief Fund which was created by the state legislature to recognize the unique contributions and sacrifices made by Citizen Service Members. Taxpayers can directly support the Mass. Military Family Relief Fund on their Massachusetts state income tax form under voluntary contribution check-off box Question 32E.
“The Military Friends Foundation enabled us to send a piece of home to our loved ones and focus on our family’s needs without worrying about any of the shipping costs. This peace-of-mind is a priceless gift,” said Debbie Sullivan, the Family Readiness Chair for the 379th, whose son and daughter-in-law both were both deployed with the unit. “I urge everyone to please take time this year to make a donation on their state tax form. Every amount makes truly makes a difference to military families like ours!”
Through generous donations, the Foundation has given hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants to Massachusetts military families. For more information on Military Friends grants and support programs, please visit www.militaryfriends.org or call (617) 733-7994.
