The Hinesville Military Affairs Committee is gearing up for its two-day soldier and family appreciation event on Fort Stewart and looking to the local community for help providing food for thousands of service members and their loved ones.
Scheduled to take place July 3 and 4 during the post's Marne Week, the celebration is meant to honor 3rd Infantry Division soldiers who have returned Iraq and the family members who awaited their homecoming.
HMAC, which serves as a liaison between Hinesville and Fort Stewart, is hosting the event, but needs assistance with supplying food for the 10,000 to 15,000 people expected to turnout out for its 4th of July celebration.
Hoping to garner support for the event, HMAC Publicity Chairman Ron Collins has written a letter calling on local restaurants, businesses and private citizens to donate to the organization.
"This year's 4th of July celebration is an important opportunity to reaffirm our support of those deployed to Iraq as part of the 3rd Infantry Division by joining soldiers and family members at Fort Stewart for a 'good old 4th of July,'" Collins wrote. "We are striving to make this celebration a salute of the quality equal to the quality of the division's performance and sacrifice their families are making on their behalf. Your support of these great Americans will be appreciated by all."
HMAC military liaison George Holtzman said donors can participate by sponsoring a food booth at the event and pledging to provide at least 250 meals and drinks for free, volunteering or donating funds.
Leading by example Wednesday, Holtzman presented HMAC Chairman David Anderson with a $500 check from his own business, Coldwell Banker Holtzman Realtors, and another $250 check from the Multiple Listing Service division of the Hinesville Area Board of Realtors, of which Holtzman is the president.
HABR President Jimmy Shanken also made a separate donation on behalf of the realtor group in the amount of $250.
"We appreciate what you do," Anderson told Holtzman and Shanken. "It's all for the soldiers and their families."
The chairman said anyone else interested in supporting the event can call Linda Blanchard at 368-3398 or e-mail her at lblanchard@cityofhinesville.org.
For more information on HMAC or the soldier and family festivities, go to www.hinesvillemac.org.
Scheduled to take place July 3 and 4 during the post's Marne Week, the celebration is meant to honor 3rd Infantry Division soldiers who have returned Iraq and the family members who awaited their homecoming.
HMAC, which serves as a liaison between Hinesville and Fort Stewart, is hosting the event, but needs assistance with supplying food for the 10,000 to 15,000 people expected to turnout out for its 4th of July celebration.
Hoping to garner support for the event, HMAC Publicity Chairman Ron Collins has written a letter calling on local restaurants, businesses and private citizens to donate to the organization.
"This year's 4th of July celebration is an important opportunity to reaffirm our support of those deployed to Iraq as part of the 3rd Infantry Division by joining soldiers and family members at Fort Stewart for a 'good old 4th of July,'" Collins wrote. "We are striving to make this celebration a salute of the quality equal to the quality of the division's performance and sacrifice their families are making on their behalf. Your support of these great Americans will be appreciated by all."
HMAC military liaison George Holtzman said donors can participate by sponsoring a food booth at the event and pledging to provide at least 250 meals and drinks for free, volunteering or donating funds.
Leading by example Wednesday, Holtzman presented HMAC Chairman David Anderson with a $500 check from his own business, Coldwell Banker Holtzman Realtors, and another $250 check from the Multiple Listing Service division of the Hinesville Area Board of Realtors, of which Holtzman is the president.
HABR President Jimmy Shanken also made a separate donation on behalf of the realtor group in the amount of $250.
"We appreciate what you do," Anderson told Holtzman and Shanken. "It's all for the soldiers and their families."
The chairman said anyone else interested in supporting the event can call Linda Blanchard at 368-3398 or e-mail her at lblanchard@cityofhinesville.org.
For more information on HMAC or the soldier and family festivities, go to www.hinesvillemac.org.