Iowa Military families band together
Iowa Military families band together
Like you’ve probably seen in previous posts I am a proud military wife. My husband is in the Iowa National Guard unit based in Le Mars. (Ice Cream Capital of the World!)
Ladies of the Soldier
The families of the unit have a core group of volunteers that have banded together to launch the family readiness group. A Family Readiness Group (FRG) is an organization of family members, volunteers, and soldiers/civilians that provides support and assistance to soldiers and their families, especially during deployments. The FRG's primary mission is to help families become more self-reliant and resilient. They offer a range of services, including information dissemination, social activities, and support networks to ensure families are well-informed and connected to their community.
To get those ideas off the ground, we hosted our first fundraiser on National Coffee Day serving breakfast and coffees to the amazing residents in Le Mars in October.
Thank you so much to the residents of Le Mars and the surrounding area for showing up to the breakfast fundraiser benefiting the families. The support and generosity truly mean a lot and will make a significant difference for the families involved. If you are reading this and attended, We deeply appreciate your kindness and community spirit.
The Guard In Action
The Iowa National Guard played a crucial role in rescuing residents from Hurricane Helene. When the hurricane hit, they were deployed to assist with evacuation efforts in North Carolina and Tennessee providing medical aid, and to deliver essential supplies to those affected. Their dedication and bravery helped ensure the safety and well-being of many residents during this challenging time. The National Guard's swift and effective response showcased their commitment to serving and protecting the community in times of crisis.
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds authorized the deployment of seven National Guard members and a swift water rescue team, we aren’t sure what part of Iowa they are from but we are proud of them either way!
Pat Harrigan, a Republican from North Carolina running for the U.S. House, posted photos of the Iowa National Guard members evacuating the nursing home residents.
All Hands On Deck
Although, It was a daunting task due to lack of volunteers. Volunteers play a crucial role in getting a breakfast fundraiser ready. Between choosing a venue, organizing a schedule, spreading the word about the fundraiser through social media, flyers, and word of mouth to attract attendees, not to mention seeking donations from local businesses so out of pocket expenses were dominating the profit side of the fundraiser, and set up and manning the food stations. We wouldn’t have been able to do it as successfully as it was without the American Legion in Le Mars letting us use their space and providing plenty of volunteers.
I’d Do It All Over Again: As with any fundraiser, we had great success raising $1,200 for the families in ONE DAY! As a core member of this group and getting events and ideas off the ground I’m sure you’ll see updates from the National Guard in these posts in the future.
IOWA WRITERS COLLABORATIVE!
Join in on the other writers from Iowa as part of the Iowa Writers Collaborative! We are a group of independent journalists who write about anything and everything Iowa. Check out others in our group by following the link.