November 5th Service Night

November 5th is our semi-annual Service Night at American Heritage Girls!

The details are coming together and here are a few things to look forward to and plan:

• Operation Hometown Gratitude
• making cookies for the troops!  Plan on bringing to the meeting on November 5th cookies that are made at home.   Package the cookies in a plastic GLAD containers, or equivalent, no larger than 10" X 5"X 8". In each container place a slice or piece of bread to retain moisture, then securely tape lid on.  We will have extra supplies that night if they are needed.
• we will also have a questionnaire that you can fill out too that is a nice note for the troops to read as they are enjoying your freshly baked cookies.
• Check out this link to see how you can get involved with this program with your family.
•  Project Linus
• National nonprofit organization that provides handmade blankets to seriously ill and traumatized children. Based in Rochester, we're looking for volunteers, or "blanketeers," to make quilted, knitted, crocheted, or no-sew fleece blankets. 
• AHG will be making no-sew blankets at our Service Night that will be donated to this group.  Blankets made that night will be given to the following organizations:  Olmsted County Medical Hospital  Salvation Army Transitional Housing, Women's Shelter, Interfaith Hospitality Network, Crisis Nursery, Ronald McDonald House, Rochester Methodist Hospital, Birthright of Rochester, Rochester Schools' Students -in-Transition Program, St. Marys Hospital, New Life Family Services and Gift of Life Transplant House.
• How can you help this organization outside of Service Night?  If you have time and would like to make a blanket before November 5th, just bring it with to the meeting and we will make sure it is delivered for you.  You can also check out their website here for more information on how your family can get involved.
•   Holiday Mail for Heros
• the Christmas season is almost here and we get the joy of delivering holiday cards to veterans, military families and active-duty service members at hospitals and installations around the world.  The American Red Cross will be collecting the cards made from Americans and sending them on for us.  
• What can you do at home?  Make cards at home!  The deadline to get the cards to the address collecting is December 7th...so you still have time after Service Night to make cards on your own or with your family and send them on your own.  Before you decide to make them at home though please be sure to check out the card guidelines.  The address details and card guidelines can be found here.  
• AHG will collect cards at Service Night and will also collect cards made from home at the November 19th meeting.  Anything made after that will need to be mailed by your family.
•   Diaper Bundles
• a local non-profit called Teen MOPS provides a bundle of diapers to each mom that attends their meetings.  15 to 30 bundles of diapers go to moms each meeting and help is needed getting those diapers ready for the moms to take home.  
•   Placemats for Season's Hospice
• we have had the privilege of decorating placemats in the past and this organization is excited for your help again!  Get your creative juices flowing, think of some designs you could create to help brighten up a meal.

A few other ideas are in the works and may be presented at Service Night.