BEATING THE BLUES

I’m an eater, not a fighter - which is why I don’t write much about Things Military, choosing instead to bore my Esteemed Readers with photos and tales of the things I cook and devour. But my buddy Laughing Wolf (whom you also may know from his posts at Blackfive) has asked me to tell you about a few worthy organizations that involve both Food and Fightin’ (or, more aptly put, feeding the good folks who fight in service to our country), and so...

Pin-Ups for Vets and Cooking with the Troops Partner for Operation Fight Post Holiday Blues

The post-holiday blues can be bad enough on those who are healthy and fully engaged in their normal activities. Stop for a moment and consider what it might be like for members of the U.S. or Allied forces who find themselves evacuated to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany. The time between Thanksgiving and New Year’s is like a firehose of attention, visits, and more. Then, suddenly, it’s gone. They are alone in a hospital in a foreign country, far away from friends, family, and their normal support networks. Despite the dedicated efforts of staff and volunteers, the blues can hit hard.

Recognizing that, Gina Elise of the non-profit Pin-Ups for Vets and Cooking with the Troops have partnered to create Operation Fight Post Holiday Blues. This special event, timed for mid-January to have maximum effect, will combine a special dinner for a planned 150 people cooked by Guest Chef Ellen Adams, with hospital and other visits by Gina to help drive the blues away. To aid this effort, the team is being joined by author Michael Z. Williamson, who will also do visits, autographs, and give away books.

Full details on the event can be found here; all participants are available for interviews. To do this event, Pin-Ups for Vets and Cooking with the Troops are looking to raise $15,000. Donations can be made by mail, or online at http://cwtt.org/donations.html via PayPal. Donors can note on the donation that it is for Operation Fight Post-Holiday Blues. Any funds raised that are not used will be used to support future operations at Pin-Ups for Vets and Cooking with the Troops.

So: unlimber that wallet and help cheer up (and feed) a few of the folks who are laying it all on the line for us!

[N.B. - Cooking with the Troops is a 501(c)(3) public charity dedicated to supporting U.S. and Allied Troops, their families, and caregivers through special food events, culinary careers, front line support, and homefront support. For more information, please contact Susan Katz Keating, Director of Communications, at skeating [at] cwtt [dot] org or C. Blake Powers, CEO, at ceo [at] cwtt [dot] org.]