PDA

View Full Version : Sticking together for the troops



thedrifter
04-12-07, 09:05 AM
Sticking together for the troops
CHRISSY VICK
DAILY NEWS STAFF

Amy Rivera knows how difficult it can be to have a spouse deployed - she's faced it twice in recent years while her husband served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

So she knows how much of a difference Project CARE can make.

"When you're by yourself most people are far from home, from their regular support networks," said Rivera, member manager for the Jacksonville/Onslow Chamber of Commerce, which runs Project CARE. "Project CARE shows the community is behind you and it can put your mind at ease."

Project CARE provides help to military families while their loved ones are deployed through a partnership with various local government, military and community organizations since it was fully activated in 2003.

Rivera has been involved with the program for more than a year. She sees the good it is doing.

"It's nice to know that the community stands behind us," Rivera said.

Wednesday morning, Project CARE kicked off its decal program, which offers the Chamber's 800 businesses the chance to display a decal in support of the program. Businesses that agree to display the decal must sign the Chamber code of ethics before doing so.

Renee Valdov was happy to do so as the vice president of marketing and promotions for Duck's Bar and Grille, Alexander's and Military and Federal Construction.

"I think it's important because when you're new to the area, it just adds that sense of security that people will understand what you're going through in a deployment," Valdov said. "They know they'll get a little more TLC."

As a former Marine and now a Marine spouse, Valdov hopes businesses will open their arms and show a little extra kindness to military families in the area.

"Sometimes these things are also a reminder to businesses of what these spouses go through," Valdov said. "We get busy and sometimes forget."

Mona Padrick, president of the Chamber of Commerce, said the decal program was started in 2003 and has been reissued following major deployments since.

"The purpose is to let spouses know the folks in the businesses understand," she said. "It helps them feel a little more at ease."

Base programs like the predeployment briefs make spouses aware of the stickers, which also give businesses a chance to explain to employees what Project Care does and how to "have a little more empathy for spouses," Padrick said.

In another effort, Project Care is planning its first Car Care Clinic scheduled for April 21 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event will bring in local auto experts to talk about car parts, prevention tips, emergency issues and more.

"In spouses doing business, one of the major areas they find discomfort is in dealing with their automobile," Padrick said. "So spouses can come here and learn about what to expect and how to understand what's involved in different procedures. Maybe then they'll feel more comfortable in dealing with their car."

The car care clinic is open to the public and children are welcome, though Project CARE is offering free child care for military dependents from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Advance reservations are required and can be made by calling 450-1646 or 450-1648.

"We're hoping this works out well so that we can do this in other areas," Padrick said.

Project CARE also has a ribbon program to show support to the troops, a program for families of service members killed or wounded in action and other various services to bridge the gap in the needs of military spouses.