Star Group-Veterans Helping Veterans made sure that 425 families got to enjoy a proper Thanksgiving meal with all the trimmings this holiday.  November 16th, dozens of volunteers teamed up with members of the Star Group to help distribute Thanksgiving baskets to families in need. In addition to a turkey, each basket included corn, green beans, cranberry sauce, canned yams, stuffing, cake mix, frosting, gravy mix, and rice.

We’re giving away 425 turkey baskets, that’s a turkey and all the trimmings, to families that might otherwise not be able to have a traditional Thanksgiving meal,” said Star Group-Veterans Helping Veterans Executive Director Sheila Timmons. “What we find is that there’s a lot of people that we assume are going to have Thanksgiving and they’re not. We really do it for the Families. Kids are so excited to get Thanksgiving meals. You’ll see when they get the bags, they’re like “Look mama, look at all this!”

The baskets went to people identified by a variety of groups including AFGE, Copperas Cove Soup Kitchen, Harker Heights Vet Center, Everyone in the Zone, Fort Hood Communities in School, Jesus Hope Center, and more. 200 of the 425 baskets went to Copperas Cove ISD and Killeen ISD (which covers Killeen, Harker Heights, Nolanville) HARP families.

Regina Wesson donated seven bags of clothes which were laid out on a table outside the Star Group building and given away during the basket distribution. These clothes were a welcome addition as many selected what they wanted to use for Christmas gifts or to wear. Ms Wesson had said to donate whatever was left but to everyone’s surprise all items were taken.

During the presentation, Mr John Robertson, VP of SGVHV handed the first basket to Dr Burns, CCISD Superintendent and Dr Burns handed it to Taina Maya, chief communications officer for KISD. This tribute indicates there are no county or city lines that divide our children. This is an infamous saying of SGVHV President, Mr Jonathan Haywood.
“I cannot help but continue to be amazed at the work that Star Group-Veterans Helping Veterans does. Not only supporting veterans, but helping the community and making sure that those that have the greatest needs are always remembered in challenging times,” said CCISD Superintendent Dr. Joe Burns as he thanked Star Group members for their generous donation to the schools and for all the work that they do year-round.

Taina Maya, chief communications officer for KISD said “There are not enough words to describe what it means to a family to have a warm meal for the holiday. A lot of our students and their families don’t always have this blessing during this time of year, and we want to be able to give as many meals as we can to our students. I think it also speaks volumes about the group behind it—these volunteers, the donors, Star Group Veterans Helping Veterans—it speaks volumes about what Bell County really stands for which is always being there for one another.”

J.D. Sheffield, Texas House of Representative for District 59 indicated, “We’re always here when the Star Group Veterans Helping Veterans is doing something to benefit the community,” said “It’s amazing. It goes to show the kindness of neighbors helping neighbors…It’s heart-warming. They’re doing it simply to help their fellow man.”
The Fort Hood Area Association of Realtors donated 250 of the turkeys that were given away this weekend.
“This is the time of year that you want to give, especially to families that might not otherwise be able to have a Thanksgiving dinner, said David Hall, president of the Fort Hood Area Association of Realtors. “The realtors donate more and more each year…It feels great that the realtors can help.”
Hall added that he particularly liked the fact that the Star Group Veterans donates to a wide variety of groups, helping out the whole community, not just one portion of it.

A Special Thanks goes to all Star Group Veterans Helping Veterans Members who donated their time and money to make this a successful event as we continue to help the Community.