Inspirada is teaming up with the Douglas J. Green Memorial Foundation for the 11th Annual Munchies 4 the Military. Donations toward this event are used to send care packages to our brave military men and women overseas. Inspirada has a long history of teaming up with the Douglas J. Green Memorial Foundation, a volunteer non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization founded by Suni Chabrow, who established the organization in honor of her late son, SPC Douglas J. Green, who was killed in action during his second tour in Afghanistan.
This year’s Munchies 4 the Military event will be presented by Liberty High School and the City of Henderson, with the month-long donation drive happening March 17th – April 18th. Those interested in helping can also volunteer their time to help stock care packages at Liberty High School on April 26th at 1 pm.
Events like these truly exemplify the giving nature of our community and the impact we can have when we come together for a great cause. Year after year, the Inspirada community has come out in numbers to help donate to the foundation or help package donations so they can be shipped to our uniformed service members overseas. This year, we hope you can do the same and help us give back to our troops. If you’d like to know how to get involved, our events page provides locations and times where you can help, whether that’s helping pack up shipments or providing your own donation.
Speaking With Suni Chabrow: How Community Can Help
We were lucky to speak directly to founder Suni Chabrow about the work she has done in honor of her late son and the impact the Douglas J. Green Memorial Foundation has had on the lives of troops who fight for us far away.
How did the partnership with Inspirada and the City of Henderson come to be?
The Inspirada community reached out to me. They were aware of my foundation and wanted to get involved. Attending a care package packing event is life-changing. It’s so impactful to witness the emotions of family members packing care packages to send to their loved ones and knowing you are helping those active service members feel supported, loved, and missed.
Why is it important to you to support our active service members in this way?
Our troops feel so isolated when they are deployed, and opening a package that has all of their favorite things keeps their morale up and lets them know that not only their “home,” as in their family but also their “home,” as in the U.S., are thinking about them and appreciates what they are sacrificing for us.
When they open their care packages, it’s their favorite snack, but it’s also home. It looks like home, it smells like home, and it’s important that they know home is still thinking about them. My son loved getting care packages; he lived for it. I knew I was honoring my son because he was always so grateful for the care packages, and he would love that this is how his legacy is living on.
Who will be receiving the care packages collected from Munchies 4 The Military?
Deployed members from our Las Vegas valley. There is currently a rotation of 300 men and women from our community who are deployed. When one group comes back, another group is sent. One of the amazing things is that when a troop returns, many of the service members come to one of our events. They help pack care packages for the other troops that are deployed because they know how great it is to get one.
Do you have a favorite moment from a past Munchies 4 The Military event?
Oh, there are so many amazing moments. One was when I videotaped a woman and her three kids putting together a care package for her husband, who was deployed. Families of our active service members are sacrificing, too, and it’s so emotional to see them making a package for their loved ones.
I also love watching little kids at care packing events because they just get it. They
understand that there are men and women over there who are fighting and protecting us here so we can keep living our lives. It’s special to me to see that.
Then there are also the seniors who have been in war who show up in their wheelchairs and are so excited to be able to help. That is really special, too.
Can a family request to have a care package sent to their deployed loved one?
Absolutely! On the Douglas J. Green Memorial Foundation website, you can create a customized care package. I don’t know 90% of the people who request care packages, but that doesn’t matter one bit. The foundation collects the items, puts them together, and sends them all at our own expense. One of the best things is that troops will send thank you letters back and photos of them opening their care packages. It is so rewarding to see the smiles on their faces and know we are helping keep their morale up.
How to Do Your Part
Help us help our men and women overseas during the next Munchies 4 The Military event by donating your time and money! You can donate items like chips, trail mix, and protein bars (see a full list of items requested here) to fill the care packages. Each box costs about $40, and while about half of that goes toward its contents, shipping costs $17 per care package, so any monetary donations are also greatly appreciated. You can also volunteer your time and join us at Liberty High School on April 26th at 1 pm to help assemble care packages. We hope to see you there!