Azalea, Champions, Cypress Belles, Cypress Creek, Katy, Lady Bird, Star Texas Topaz, Wildflowers and Yellow Rose

Partnered with: Operation Homefront

320 Ticktockers filled backpacks with school supplies, put together summer fun packages, toiletry packages, collected books and wrote notes in them, painted baby onesies, made diaper packages that looked like cakes, and made bracelets out of nylon rope that can be taken apart to give you an 8 ft. rope!  Texas Road House restaurant, sponsor orchestrated a "cookout" for all the girls and moms.

Austin, Lake Austin, Capital of Texas, Hills of Austin, Lake Travis, North Austin and Treaty Oak

  

Partnered with: Military Women in Transition

Over 350 Ticktockers arrived from all the Austin Chapters on the premises of Camp Mabry on February 15th.  The Ticktockers learned a great deal during the Ticktocker Rally from Lt. Colonel John Davis about Camp Mabry's history and the Texas National Guard and from Captain Elizabeth Shumpert about what it is like to be a woman in the military and military careers for women.

The MWIT/Ticktocker Day event was focused on military women.  NCL provided access to seminars, workshops, support services, and employer round tables to facilitate and enhance the military participants' search for a civilian career/job.  However, the best part about the day was watching Ticktockers serve in various capacities from being an NCL ambassador assigned specifically to one of the military participants shadowing their career education throughout the day or being assigned to set up for the event by preparing all the goodie bags for participant check in.

Partnered with: Navy-Marine Corp Relief Society

191 Ticktockers and approximately 75 Sustainers and District/National representatives prepared 100 fleece baby blankets and new baby supplies packed in NCL-logo drawstring backpacks for distribution to Navy families. "It's love expressed," said Vicki Murphy, Chief Advancement Officer for Casa Pacifica. "It gets bigger and better each year. The residents here see philanthropy taught in a tangible way. They get to meet with the NCL girls and talk with them, and it shows them that they are valuable, that they count."  (The same sentiment could be said for the military personnel receiving the baby bags!)

Partnered with: Operation Valentine

District 5 held its 7th Operation Valentine event on January 11, 2014 at the University of California, Irvine.  Local Veterans and active military were invited with their families.  This was a day for NCL to show gratitude to the military as well as their families. Upon arriving to the event, guests walked through a parade of NCL volunteers holding flags and cheering them on, thanking them for their service.  They were then treated to a hot lunch, a live rock and roll band, and many activities for the children including bounce house, face painting, story time, tug-of-war, sno-cones, carnival games, etc.  Each military guest received a handmade valentine as well as a goody bag with items donated by all thirteen District 5 chapters.  Extra valentines and goody bags were donated to the VA Hospital and Veterans in transitional housing.  NCL volunteers served over 550 lunches and made it a special day of thanks.

From an attendee: "As a young marine returning from Vietnam in 1967, I have never before felt so welcome. There were tears in my eyes on Saturday as well as now, while I say "Thank You" to you all. The Love, Honor, and Kindness shown to me and my family... was simply overwhelming." - Jerry C., Staff Sergeant, USMC

District 10's project in support of the National Philanthropy Initiative was "Happy Feet! Helping Put Boots on the Ground." A total of 17 Chapters supported the military by sending care packages of homemade foot soaks and footcare products. The idea for this project was developed after reading an article about military life and the #1 complaint from troops, which is, achy feet! Footcare products like blister bandages, ointment, and powders are among the items most requested. A soldier's feet are as critical to his mission as his weapon so the District set out to make a difference in the lives of military service men and women.

There are just over 5,000 members in District 10. Over 10,000 foot soaks, equivalent to a whole Division of the military, have been packaged with special notes attached. Many of them have already shipped to distant outposts, nursing units, veterinary clinics, chaplains and the like.

The second annual District 11 Ticktocker/Philanthropy event, themed "Miles Apart- Close at Heart"  was held on January 12th to support a variety of military themed philanthropies. Colorado Blue Sky members invited a speaker from Operation Homefront while preparing baby blankets for expectant mothers. The members of Colorado Springs and Pikes Peak prepared baby gifts/totes for Operation Homefront, as well as greeting cards for clients of the Ronald McDonald House. Salt Lake City and Rocky Mountain Chapters made Valentine Cards for Operation Homefront and the National Guard that will be delivered to troops both home and abroad. Colorado Foothills Chapter is hosting their second Annual Talent night that will support Military organizations, while in St. Louis, the Gateway Chapter filled 90 bags with personal care items to support the Women's VA organization.  

In their second year joining forces, these three Chapters kicked off Salute a Veteran Week by making over 250 Valentines, 50 homemade cookie bags, and 50 care packages for US Veterans' wish lists. On February 8^th, about 30 girls and moms delivered these goods, along with approximately $2500 worth of shoes, sweat shirts, sweat pants, socks, and men's underwear, to the veterans at the VA Hospital. It was a successful event that allowed the girls to visit veterans, and it even generated news coverage and attention that led to proceeds from a local performance to the VA Hospital!  

The Lake Sammamish Chapter selected and approved a partnership with Operation Write Home - a Washington-based non-profit that creates professional quality handmade greeting cards that are sent to military personnel for them to write home to their loved ones.  Far too many times, these cards are the last correspondence a loved one receives from their fallen service man or woman.  This organization, which started in 2007 has deployed more than 2.5 million greeting cards, and probably that many "Any Hero" cards and letters of thanks and encouragement to our military forces.  As District Specialist, Kathy Anderson worked with Chapters to set up an event for mothers and daughters to learn about the impact of this organization and receive their own inspiration around creating these very special cards.  Sandy Allnock, Founder and Executive Director spoke to over 65 members about the organization, which receives cards from all over the country that are deployed to more than 500 units around the world. More than 100 members participated in this project and over 325 cards were created.  An additional 100 "Any Hero Cards" were created and written by both moms and daughters.  

About 40 mothers and daughters participated in the making of a private YouTube music video thanking the female soldiers of Soldiers' Angel. Even the shyest of girls participated in this fun taping, which served as a great bonding activity in the end! They also made 30 care package boxes and wrote numerous letters to send to the soldiers.    

One of our own - an NCL father, served in a tour in Iraq during very turbulent times. He served as a guest speaker at an NCL meeting and shared his experiences, sacrifices, and time in the military. His personal and emotional stories sparked inspiration in the 56 moms and daughters who attended the January 18th event to write over 160 letters to soldiers and their families of Operation Gratitude.   

The Foothill Chapter donated 150 bags of toiletries to the USO's Ontario Center as part of the National Philanthropy Initiative. Each bag was filled with essential items and a personal note of thanks. The items were donated and assembled and the cards written by the mothers and daughters of the Foothill Chapter. 

On February 28th, the Keller Texas Chapter held a special Ticktocker Retreat in which they packed approximately 30 boxes filled with donated treats, girl scout cookies, and travel size hygiene products. There are several military wives in their Chapter, so Operation Homefront has been dear to their hearts, and they have logged 206 hours with this organization. They often participate in the Honor Flight program in which they write letters and meet WWII Veterans, honoring them for their service. The girls also made 25 blankets at their February 28th retreat for Operation Linus for Children of Soldiers.   

At the January board meeting, the Wounded Warrior Project was approved as a new philanthropy.  On January 12th, members completed approximately 100 thank you notes to wounded warriors.   

After being informed of the USO's never ending demand for candy, the Plano Chapter held a "Candy Drive" at their February meeting, which fortuitously landed on the Tuesday before Valentine's Day. Over 130 lbs of candy bars was collected and delivered to the USO office in DFW Airport just in time for Valentine's Day, providing a few last minute Valentine gifts for military spouses!  

On February 23rd, the Oregon Rose Chapter organized a Ticktocker card-making event to benefit Operation Homefront. 50 Ticktockers representing all Chapter classes created 4th of July cards with personal messages of thanks and encouragement to military service men and women.  More than 75 cards were completed during the event, and many girls chose to take materials home to work on additional cards.  Lisa Christopherson, Chapter President and Katie Erzen worked to coordinate this event for their Chapter.

The Orchard Valley Chapter joined "Operation: Care and Comfort" with a care package assembly day. Over 100 volunteers put together care packages that filled two large military vehicles, which will be shipped overseas to active military units. "Operation: Care and Comfort" has sent more than 1,000,000 pounds of care packages to U.S. Military personnel deployed in conflict regions since 2003 and the ladies of Orchard Valley are proud to have been a part of their amazing program.  

Palos Verdes Chapter set in motion a baby shower drive to collect very important "must haves" for a new mother to be... onesies and wipes.  They were able to donate more than 200 adorable onesies and over 70 large packages of wipes. This initiative taught mothers and daughters the joy of giving to improve the lives of military families.   

The Sierra Nevada Chapter collected diapers and baby wipes and made valentines for the blue star moms in their community. They collected 65 cases of diapers, 35 baby wipes and made over 100 valentines. 

At their January meeting, the Patronesses brought a variety of toiletry items and made approximately 60 care packages and thank you notes for the VA Hospital in Palo Alto.