Operation Hometown Hello delivers 5,000 pounds of items to Pennsylvania National Guard troops serving overseas.
Donations collected by Turkey Hill at Minit Market locations during the month of July to be sent to the 6,000 men and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
This July, Turkey Hill introduced a new program called Operation Hometown Hello to support the men and women of the Pennsylvania National Guard serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Donation boxes were placed in the 247 Turkey Hill Minit Market locations throughout Eastern, Central and Southern Pennsylvania. Customers and area residents were invited to bring in a donation or purchase an item in-store for Pennsylvania National Guard troops serving overseas.
Each store posted a list of the top ten most requested items, including individual peanut packets, beef jerky snacks and packs of gum. Turkey Hill Dairy trucks then collected each donation box and, along with the Minit Markets, covered shipping costs for all items to be sent to Pennsylvania troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The program, which ran from July 1 to July 31, collected a total of 532 boxes. With each box weighing an average of ten pounds, the donation total is expected to be close to 5,000 pounds of snacks and goodies.
"We're thrilled, but not surprised, by the success of this program," said Quintin Frey, president of Turkey Hill Dairy. "Our customers are always very generous and thoughtful. Our hope is that the 5,000 pounds of snacks will at least bring some good cheer from home to the many men and women working so hard in Iraq and Afghanistan."
According to Erin Dimitriou Smith, public relations manager for Turkey Hill Minit Markets, customers were more than generous with donations. "We had a great response in all of our stores. We're honored to use our stores to support a great cause like this one."
The boxes started shipping in mid-July to locations in Iraq and Afghanistan selected by the Pennsylvania National Guard. The final boxes will be shipped by August 23. For more information about the program and Turkey Hill Dairy's and Turkey Hill Minit Markets' charitable partnerships, visit TurkeyHillCares.com.