Announcements 8/6/20

FUNDRAISER ON MONDAY, AUGUST 10th!

EAT AT NOODLES & COMPANY IN NAPERVILLE AND WE WILL RECEIVE 25% OF YOUR ORDER TOTAL!

Just show the below flyer before placing your order at Noodles & Company. Eat dinner between 4 PM-8 PM at 207 S. Washington St., Naperville, 60540 and they will donate 25% of proceeds back to OSOT-America. CLICK HERE for the flyer as you must show the image for us to receive the proceeds. Not valid for online orders.

URGENTLY NEEDED ITEMS FOR OUR COMFORT AND CARE PACKAGE PROGRAM

Our inventory is getting extremely low on some important items for our Comfort and Care Package Program, including:

--Letters and Cards to the Troops. These are one of the most valuable items because the letters and cards of support remind them how much they are appreciated and valued. If you are able to write letters and cards for us or can organize a group to help, please let us know!

--Shampoo (16 oz or less)

--Pain Relief Medications

--Canned Fruit (15 oz)

--Bandages

CLICK HERE or call us at 630-971-1150.

ITEMS NEEDED FOR OUR STOCKING PROGRAM!

We are only a few short months from beginning to stuff stockings for deployed troops serving in harm's way! Please consider donating some needed items for the stockings as last year we sent out 8,000 stockings! If you have any questions, please email us by CLICKING HERE or call us at 630-971-1150.

IN HONOR OF BARRY LEMCKE

Dave Pequet has spearheaded all of our Red White and Blues fundraising events from the very beginning and put in a tremendous amount of effort and energy into making each one successful. For the very first Red White and Blues event he worked with his friend, Pete Lemcke and asked if we could host the fundraiser at PIRCH, a high-end appliance store where Pete was the store director. Pete welcomed us with open arms as he is a huge military supporter and upon learning what we do to support the military community he stood behind us 100% and went above and beyond to make the event extremely successful. Having the fundraiser at such a unique venue was the perfect backdrop for us to have plenty of space for a live band, a silent auction, and a sophisticated and fun cocktail party. Pete put significant personal sweat equity into working on every last detail to make it better than we could have ever dreamed. Thank you Pete for all your support and generosity.

Recently Pete's brother, U.S. Coast Guard Veteran Barry Lemcke passed away unexpectedly. Even though Pete has moved out of the area, he contacted us as he wanted to set up a way that people could donate to OSOT-America on behalf of the memory and honor of his brother. If you would like to donate on behalf of Barry Lemcke, please CLICK HERE.

All of us at OSOT-America extend our condolences to Pete on the loss of his brother.

SHOP AND DROP AUGUST 28-29, 2020

Our next Shop and Drop Event will be held on Friday, August 28th from 4 PM-8 PM and on Saturday, August 29th from 9 AM-5 PM at Jewel-Osco located at 127 E. Ogden Ave., Naperville, IL 60563.

If you would like to volunteer, please CLICK HERE to sign up online!

GREAT NONPROFITS--WE NEED YOUR REVIEW!

If you love our work then tell the world! Stories about us from people like you will help us make an even bigger impact in our community. GreatNonprofits – the #1 source of nonprofit stories and feedback – is honoring highly regarded nonprofits with their 2020 Top-Rated List. Won’t you help us raise visibility for our work by posting a brief story of your experience with us? All content will be visible to potential donors and volunteers. It’s easy and only takes 3 minutes! CLICK HERE to get started!

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

There are many ways you can volunteer--here are a few ideas:

Make neck coolers for the troops! CLICK HERE for detailed directions. We have plenty of beads at the warehouse. If you would like to make the neck coolers and would like the beads please email Sue by CLICKING HERE and she can set up a date and time for them to be picked up.
Christmas Stockings and Ornaments Needed We need volunteer help to make ornaments and stockings (we have patterns available) for our Christmas Stocking Program that starts this fall. We do have a pattern available that we can mail out to you for the stockings--email us at info@osotamerica.org with the address you would like us to mail it to.
Make paracord bracelets for our troops, CLICK HERE for a video tutorial.
Like to knit? Knit hats and scarves for our troops to give them a comfort from home that we can add to the Comfort and Care Packages. We are currently working with one of our volunteers who is very knowledgeable and has already made many scarves with her group! CLICK HERE for updated guidelines she has shared with us. Thanks Barbara!
Kids can write letters, draw pictures and make cards for our Comfort and Care Packages. This is an item that troops are always appreciative of because they feel supported by the patriotic community. CLICK HERE for more information.

Call us at 630-971-1150 or email us at info@osotamerica.org with any questions or ideas of other ways you can contribute! We would love to hear from you--if you are doing something remotely for the troops, let us know!

SOME G.I. YOGA IN-PERSON CLASSES RESUME!

UPDATE:

Some in person classes are resuming:

Monday nights in Wheaton 7:30 pm at Wheaton VFW Post #2164, 0N731 Papworth St, Wheaton, IL 60187. No class in Wheaton on the 2nd Mondays of the month.

Wednesdays 9:30 to 10:15 am, Judd Kendall VFW Post #3873 at 908 Jackson Ave, Naperville.

All other classes are on hold for the time being.

New Guidelines:

1. Sign-In required prior to class. We will send out the invite to sign up for class. If you don't see it (sometime tomorrow) please let me know. We are limiting the number of students per class and contact tracing for everyone's safety. Temperatures will be taken and waivers signed to gain access to class.

2. Props. We are requesting that you bring your own mat and blankets. If you don't have a mat, one will be issued to you. You can use a towel if you don't have a blanket, it doesn't have to be fancy, we just ask that you please wash your towel or blanket after each session every week. We can have blocks, they are easy to wipe down.

3. Masks. Masks on when you are not on your mat. Mats 6' to 10' apart. Classes will be shorter, to limit everyone's exposure.

If you are not comfortable coming to class, don't worry we will still have live yoga on YouTube by CLICKING HERE on Monday at 7:30 PM Wednesday 9:30 AM, Friday 10:00 AM. Plus already recorded videos.

Thank you,

Kate

MAKE A FINANCIAL DONATION

Please consider donating financially to help support our programs.

CLICK HERE to make a financial donation.

UPCOMING FUNDRAISERS

THIS MONDAY!!

Noodles Fundraiser--Monday, August 10th from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at 207 S. Washington, Naperville, 60540. Eat dinner at Noodles and they will donate 25% back to us. CLICK HERE for the flyer as you must show the image from your smartphone or the flyer for us to receive the proceeds!

Panda Express--Friday, August 14th

Ogden and East Ave., Naperville, 60563

10:30 AM-9:30 PM

20% donated to OSOT-America

CLICK HERE for the flyer as you must show the image from your smartphone or the flyer for us to receive the proceeds!

Colonial Cafe--Saturday, August 29th

1101 S. Washington St., Naperville, 60540

9:00 AM-9:00 PM

20% donated to OSOT-America

CLICK HERE for the flyer as you must show the image from your smartphone or the flyer for us to receive the proceeds!

SAVE THE DATE FOR OUR FIRST EVER ONLINE TRIVIA NIGHT SEPTEMBER 3rd 7:00 PM!

MORE INFO COMING SOON!

LETTER OF THE WEEK

Thank You so much for your support! We are a logistics organization that is responsible for all supplies coming into the Middle East on boats and planes, loading it on

to trucks and helicopters, and sending it forward to service members in one

of the 14 countries we support.

Here in Kuwait it is very hot on average 110 degrees from 12 to 5pm so far

with a heat index of 129 one day two weeks ago, and no rain since we have

been here. We are not in much danger here, but it is very taxing because

everything but the Post Exchange which is like a mini-Walmart is closed.

I have served in the National Guard and Army Reserves for 20 years. My wife

and I have been married for 14 years. We have four children, 3 girls

and 1 boy.

SCOTT MAXSON'S CONTACT INFO

If you have a question for Scott Maxson, OSOT-America's Executive Director please email him at smaxson@osotamerica.org by CLICKING HERE or call 630-971-1150.

SUICIDE PREVENTION

We have experienced an increased level of interaction with veterans through our Veterans Assistance Program as well as our other programs regarding depression and suicidal thoughts. If you know a veteran that would be in need of help, please see the contact numbers you can share:

Military One Source

1-800-342-9647

National Suicide Prevention Hotline

1-800-273-8255

CHARITY WATCHDOG RATINGS AND AWARDS

OSOT-America is proud to have top ratings from Charity Navigator, Great Nonprofits, and a Guidestar Platinum Award...and our newest award from Chamber 630 for the Best Not-For-Profit Charity.