Operation Hometown Hello From Turkey Hill To Benefit Pennsylvania National Guard Troops Serving Overseas
Donations collected at Minit Market locations during July to be sent to the 6,000 men and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan
The month of July marks celebrations of independence and the United States of America. This year, July will also mark a new program called Operation Hometown Hello to support the men and women of the Pennsylvania National Guard serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Operation Hometown Hello will offer Pennsylvania residents a chance to make donations to Guard members at one of the 250 Turkey Hill Minit Market locations throughout Eastern, Central and Southern Pennsylvania. Supporters can bring in a donation or purchase an item in-store to be included in donation boxes located in each Minit Market store. Turkey Hill Dairy will then collect each donation box and, along with the Minit Markets, cover shipping costs for all items to be sent to Pennsylvania National Guard members serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"It is an honor for us to support this program to make sure the brave men and women serving overseas with the Pennsylvania National Guard get at least a small reminder of our appreciation during the month of July, a time when we all celebrate the proud history and heritage of our nation," said Quintin Frey, president of Turkey Hill Dairy. "Unfortunately, it's too hot to send our ice cream or refrigerated tea, but there are many small items that our troops would appreciate. By working together, we can extend our famous Pennsylvania hospitality to those folks who sacrifice so much."
Erin Dimitriou Smith, Public Relations Manager for Turkey Hill Minit Markets, agrees that it's important to support Pennsylvania National Guard troops. "Those brave folks serving overseas are our neighbors, friends, family members, colleagues and members of our local community. We're thrilled to make our stores available for this program. Our customers are always strong supporters of their neighbors in need."
The distance is too far and temperatures are too high to send ice cream or refrigerated tea, but representatives from the Pennsylvania National Guard have provided a list of the other top ten items most requested by members serving overseas. These include:
- Individual size peanut packets
- Single-serve beef jerky products
- Packs of gum
- Non-chocolate candies (it's also too hot for chocolate candy!)
- Pens and pencils
- Pocket-sized notebooks
- Single-serve bags of flavored sunflower seeds
- Individual packs of pretzel rods
- Protein and energy bars
- Granola bars
Other favorites include individual powdered drink mix packets, men's and women's magazines, and personal sized hygiene products. Individual or single-serve items are preferred so troops can carry the items in their pockets.
A complete list of requested items, store locations and additional information about the program can be found at TurkeyHillCares.com.