Employees at one
Citi office in Fort Lauderdale didn’t need much convincing on how they wanted
to spend their company’s Global Community Day.
As they
discussed different possibilities, one told how he and others at his church
enjoyed a day of preparing “care packages” to send to U.S. troops with
America’s Moms for Soldiers.
“He brought it to the rest of
the group and there was definite interest,” said Ramon Rodriguez of Community
Development for Citi, the global financial services company.
Rodriguez said
an estimated 30,000 to 40,000 Citi employees in more than 100 countries will
participate in Global Community Day on Oct. 22. He said more than 20 from
Citi’s Latin America regional office on Commercial Boulevard, along with
friends from Miami, Tampa and Jacksonville, are planning to spend the day
working at the America’s Moms for Soldiers warehouse in Pompano Beach.
“In South Florida, we are
involved with projects from helping low-income home owners rehab their homes
to beach cleanups to packing events like America’s Moms for Soldiers,”
Rodriguez said.
Citi is
contributing $2,000 to America’s Moms for Soldiers, a Section 501(c)(3)
organization that sends between 700 and 1,000 "care packages" monthly to U.S.
troops in Afghanistan and Iraq. Citi employees also have been gathering and
will contribute supplies.
A dozen
employees from the same Citi office joined America’s Moms’ all-volunteer staff
on Sept. 21 in assembling "care packages" containing hygiene products, snack
foods and other supplies.
America’s Moms
for Soldiers’ mission is to “Never let a soldier walk away from mail call with
nothing.” The organization specifically targets those troops who do not
receive regular mail from home.
"Care packages"
are sent to all branches of the military, with chaplains and officers
identifying those troops who need extra support.
More than 95
percent of expenses go directly into buying supplies and paying postage.
Mailing expenses alone are more than $4,000 per month.
Companies can
plan a similar employee packing day with America’s Moms by participating in
the corporate program, either contributing $2,000 or supplies for 100
individual boxes.
To find out how
you can help, visit americasmomsforsoldiers.com or call 954-358-9358.
Tom Christensen
Communications
Director
America's Moms
For Soldiers
O: 954-358-9358
C: 954-224-1818