Faithful friends and supporters:
Here we are again, one month closer to the end of yet another year. 10 months into the year, and we continue to reflect on the generous support we've received from you for our Troops! This month was especially momentous as we took the opportunity to honor the victims of Patriot's Day 10 years ago, the genesis of the wars we so fervently wish would end, yet which provide us a platform for us to encourage the Troops we faithfully support.
We had a wonderful turn out for the Patriot Day Walk of Remembrance (September 11). More than 70 people showed up to walk the two miles and honor the memory of those that were lost on that day. The banner, donated by Ink Dots, was mailed to a service member in Afghanistan. Thanks to all for your showing of support: Lanie Evans (Cole's Crossing in Cypress) for the donation of water, students from Cy Ranch HS Key Club (even though it was the morning after homecoming!), Brownie troop 14501 and many families / individuals.
Another big thank-you goes out to Molly's Adopt a Sailor organization. Molly shipped two large cases of goods for our Fall care packages. Our partnership with Molly's organization is an example of combining efforts in order to support the warfighter. MAS, like Cypress Cares, is non-profit and relies completely on monetary and in-kind donations to operate the Troop Support Programs. MAS ships hundreds of packages per month via a distribution network of volunteers all across America. Just one more way that warfighters are getting the support they deserve!
The wonderful students of Cy Woods High School band found a great way to show their support of our troops and commemorate 9/11 at the same time. Thank you Ms. Jane Jackson for helping the students to sell small US Flags the week prior to 9/11. 
The students that "sponsored" the flag got to write a note to a service member on that flag before the band put them out to line the entry of the school on Sept 9. All who came and wen at CWHS that day got a great view of 200 US Flags being displayed in honor of all who lost their lives 10 years ago. The picture here just doesn't do justice to the view we had, but you get the idea!
Upcoming Events
Fall is here and we're picking up the pace as we head into the Holiday season. Mark your calendars for a few afternoons of fun:
October 1; 3:00 p.m.: Part I Halloween Treats for the Troops
(Second packing to be held October 8th)
Come joins us at Saint Aidan's Episcopal Church on Fry Road with your fistfuls of Halloween Candy for the troops! Remember that all candy must be individually wrapped. We will ship some chocolates, but mostly hard candy, gum, mints, licorice and the like. And remember, M&Ms melt in your mouth...they will ship just fine! Pictured below is an image from one of our 2010 Halloween packing events!
October 4; 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.: Spirit Night at Chick-Fil-A in Tomball
Bring the family and come on out to show your support for Cypress Cares at the Chick-Fil-A in Tomball (on FM 2920). Tell the cashier that you are here to support Cypress Cares and CFA will donate a portion of sales to our organization. Eat More Chicken ... for our Troops!
October 8; 1:30 p.m.: Part II Halloween Treats for the Troops
Finish off the Halloween Treats for the Troops care packages at Church of the Good Shepherd in Tomball. We'll pack Halloween candy, beef jerky strips, protein bars, and just to make the dentists happy, toothbrushes and toothpaste as well!
Ongoing Events
If you are a mom, wife or girlfriend of a Soldier, Sailor. Marine or Airman, there is a new support group out there for you. Thanks to CC supporter and new Army mom, Leslie Lawson, there will soon be a new group that will meet over lunch or coffee, to talk, laugh or cry with you while your service member is deployed. This is a helpful and comforting way for you to find support and vent frustrations during the emotional roller coaster of deployment and military life. If you are interested in being a part of this group, please email Leslie.
Stay Tuned...
Cypress Cares is working on a fresh website redesign, so keep visiting www.cypress-cares.org as we hope soon you will be able to see the changes! Big thanks to Jeffry Roque of Roqwest Consulting, our website host and designer, for his expertise in this area!
2012 and beyond...
Hard to believe, but we're already planning for 2012. Is it me, or does time seem to be picking up speed around here? Currently, our box packing's are scheduled for February 25, May 19 and October 6. We plan to host one large packing each month (preferably hosted at a local church in partnership with the congregation for collecting goodies and packing boxes). If you would like to get your church involved, please have a representative from the church email Raquel about scheduling an event.
Also, keep in mind that we welcome small group events, like May's nursing home packing or September's packing at Caldwell Companies. Caldwell Co. employees gathered items in September and filled 30 boxes on September 29. The employees of Caldwell Companies raised the money to purchase the goods themselves as well as the funds needed to ship the boxes overseas, all Cypress Cares did was to help get the ball rolling; our own Alicia Powell and Melissa Hardy helped them get it all packaged up and to the post office. Laurie Stephens of Caldwell Co. was our point of contact that helped organize the effort, and you can do the same for your office, scout troop, civic group or neighborhood in 2012!
We want your pictures!
Cypress Cares is developing a video-montage for our new website. We want to include any service member that has been a recipient of a Cypress Cares package in the past. This tribute will demonstrate the reason why we do what we do. If you have a uniformed photo of your service member, please email it to us! Send an email with your photo (candid or official uniform photos will work) to info@cypress-cares.org with "Video Picture" in the subject line. Kathi Nunez will work on this montage for us and we hope to have it complete by Christmas. On a side note: Kathi is developing her business as a professional photographer, in case you are in need of some Holiday or Just-Because photos!
Thank you all for your support. We couldn't do this without each and every one of you. Now, be sure to take some time this week to kick back, sip a cinnamon- or pumpkin- or Fall-flavored something-or-other, and enjoy the cooler weather (or at least turn your AC down a few notches and hope that mulish Mother Nature takes the hint!).
"Everyone must take time to sit and watch the leaves turn" E. Lawrence
Happy Fall,
Raquel
(and the rest of)
The Cypress Cares Team
Two words come to mind when I think about this deployment: cookies and Christ. Both sustain my happiness and wellbeing. Both comfort my soul and help me though challenging times. Even as I'm beginning to write my thoughts for this editorial, I'm listening to Christian music and running to the oven every 10 minutes to put in a new batch of cookies. I have always been a cookie lover. The only types of cookies I don't like are low fat and burnt. Similarly, I have always loved Christ. Born and raised Christian and proud of it!