Mitchelle Stephenson — For the Capital Pam Parks hangs another donated gift card on the “Soldier Tree.” This is the third year that her group, Hero Helpers of South County, has helped to collect and deliver grocery and gas station gift cards to soldiers and their families at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C.
By MITCHELLE STEPHENSON, For The Capital
About three years ago, Pam Parks, who owns Parks Liquors in Deale, heard through media reports that soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center were struggling with day-to-day expenses - little things like clothing, phone cards and groceries were creating a hardship on wounded soldiers and their families. So Pam contacted her friend Ellie Osborne to find out what the two of them could do to help.
A few weeks later, Hero Helpers of South County was formed, and to date, they've raised thousands of dollars to help wounded soldiers and their families who are in our area because of the medical care they receive at Walter Reed in Washington, D.C.
This past weekend, Hero Helpers hosted their third annual "Soldier Tree," where they asked friends, customers and community members to bring gift cards for wounded soldiers and hang them on a small artificial tree on the liquor store's front counter.
"They like gift cards to places like Safeway, Giant, Walmart, and Kmart - both for those staying at Walter Reed and those on an outpatient basis," Pam said.
She explained that for the families of the soldiers, coming to Washington and having to manage the expense of groceries and gas can be a strain. After all, both the soldiers and their families are usually far away from their jobs and the comforts of home.
Ellie and Pam have been friends for years. Ellie and her husband, the late Edwin Osborne, served in the Army in a medical capacity. Both Ed and Ellie received treatment at Walter Reed - Ed for exposure to Agent Orange and Ellie for breast cancer.
"They're a wonderful crew over there. I can't say enough good things about the staff at Walter Reed," Ellie said.
After their initial conversation in March 2007, Pam thought that Ellie would be a natural to help think of ways to help the soldiers. With her medical background and recent experience at Walter Reed, Ellie was ready to give back to the military hospital.
They recruited other locals, including: Denise Oldham, Sue Real, Karen Mitchell, Lucy Whittington, Helen McConnel and Kelly Blackstock.
The group held their first event, a bake sale, in 2007, with people from the community contributing baked goods. It was held in the parking lot of Pam's liquor store and gas station on Bay Front Road. The sale netted several hundred dollars.
Next, they held a yard sale, and then in the summer a day-long festival and car show at Gino's Field in Lothian. For that they got a bus donated so that some of the soldiers could come down and enjoy a day of music and community.
Over the years, they've raised several thousand dollars, at these events - including more bake sales, yard sales, festivals, and dances - all of which they have handed over to the soldiers and their families at Walter Reed.
Their contact at the Army facility, Linda Rasnake, also calls on Pam when she needs something special.
"Not too long ago, Linda called, she was having a baby shower for some of the expectant moms. We went out and bought 10 diaper bags and filled them all with baby stuff," Pam said.
Once they've had an event, Hero Helpers uses the money to buy needed items, which they personally deliver.
Despite her experience as an Army nurse, Ellie said that visiting the soldiers is still a shock.
"I've seen things, but it is still a shock to see young people with no arms and no legs. One of the things was a man sitting in a bed with his little baby. He didn't have any legs and his one arm had been blown off," she said.
The women are humbled by the stories of the soldiers and their families. But Ellie stressed that ensuring that these families have means to live fulfilling lives once they leave Walter Reed is still an open question.
"I think, 'How is he going to make it?' We need to do everything we can do. We have to take care of these families and these children. That is what we are hoping for, " Ellie said.
They hope to build their group towards becoming a nonprofit that can someday set up a scholarship fund to help the children of the wounded.
Until then, "we just enjoy doing it," Ellie said.
If you would like to contribute to the soldier tree, drop off your gift card at Park's Liquor on Bay Front Road in Deale.
The Southern Anne Arundel Chamber of Commerce also put out a tree this year to help local families. The Angel Tree at BB&T in Deale was taken down earlier this month. The wish list for the 27 boys and girls from the Head Start program in Shady Side had all been met by Dec 5.
Carmelia Hicks is the coordinator for Head Start and Early Head Start, federal programs that help pregnant women and children through age 5. The programs are run out of the Lula G. Scott Center in Shady Side.
Carmelia gave the chamber the names, ages and sizes of 27 boys and girls from the program.
Carla Catterton is the executive director of the Chamber of Commerce. With the help of BB&T bank manager Lisa Purner, the tree was set up in the bank lobby with 27 angel tags.
Participants were asked to take a tag and use the information to give an item of clothing or a toy so that each child would have two gifts. Gifts were to be placed under the BB&T tree, wrapped.
"I was almost in tears when I walked in to BB&T and saw all the gifts that were there," Carla said.
The gifts were delivered to the Lula G. Scott Center on Dec. 5, where the families enjoyed a holiday social, complete with refreshments and a visit from Santa.
"A lot of the families here are needy and the families just don't have the money to buy gifts. I don't know if they realize how much it helps our families and how grateful they are, but it is great to see the children's eyes light up and to see how much they appreciate it," Carmelia said.
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