Erasmus Perry Chapter, NSDAR
Silver Spring, Maryland
Chapter Service Projects
DAR Supported Schools
Each year the chapter collects items and pocket change for the DAR Schools. At chapter meetings in 2021 members donated a total of $73.87 to the DAR Schools. These donations included donations to the school bus at chapter meetings. At the June 2021 meeting, Chapter Librarian held a book sale and raised $41.00 for the school bus. Several members brought in costume jewelry to donate. Lots of lovely earrings, necklaces, and pins. This will be sent to Crossnore School to sell in their thrift store. To learn more about the schools go to https://www.dar.org/national-society/education/dar-schools
Our March chapter meeting guest speaker was Rob Scheer, Founder and Chairperson of Comfort Cases.
Rob explained how many youth in foster care will be moved from home to home multiple times, often carrying their life's treasurers in a large black trash bag. At Comfort Cases, they believe that every child deserves to feel a sense of dignity. Every child deserves to pack their belongings in a special bag they can call their own. It is the mission of Comfort Cases to provide a proper bag, filled with comfort & essential items, to these brave youth in foster care on their journey to find their forever home.
Chapter members were asked to bring donations to the May meeting and volunteers offered to help assemble Comfort Cases at the Gaithersburg headquarters. As of June 1, 2018, members of Erasmus Perry have donated over 210 items for Comfort Cases. This donations include 85 books and journals, 52 pairs of new PJs and other clothing items and lots of needed personal items. This is just a start as we continue to collect items for this very worthy cause!
Project Patriot
Thank you for your wonderful generosity in collecting items for Project Patriot! On November 13, 2017 we sent off three boxes: one to a male soldier & two to female soldiers. Items collected included personal care items such as soap, shampoo, moisturizer, chapstick, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and floss. Playing cards, magazines, socks, and postage stamps were also included along with freezer bags, food, snacks, and candy. Monetary donations helped defray part of the shipping costs. Each box weighed over 20 lbs for a grand total of 64 lbs 13 oz.
Thank you to everyone for your collaboration!
On Nov. 14, 2017 we sent 9.5 lbs of jewelry to the thrift store at Tamassee DAR School in Tamassee, South Carolina. That was 250 different pieces of jewelry!
Coupons for the Troops
I am pleased to report that our chapter members have provided me with a tremendous amount of coupons to be clipped and snipped. With the completion of that tiresome job I am pleased to announce we will be sending four pounds 9.30 ounces [4.930] for the Project Patriot contest by the December 1, 2017 deadline. I feel good about our contribution and amazed at how much the final weigh-in totaled. Those bits and pieces of paper really added up!Thanks to all who contributed your time in assisting me to cut the coupons as well as those who diligently saved them for the contest! Also, I would like to remind everyone that even though the contest is over, we still need coupons saved and brought to our meetings for the on-going "Coups for Troops" campaign we send in throughout the year.
Well done ladies!
Christmas Cards
Two hundred thirty-three cards were contributed and signed by members and prospective members at the November chapter meeting. The cards will be delivered to the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Washington, D.C., for distribution to resident veterans. The chapter goal is to have 400 cards ready for delivery.
UPDATE: We exceeded our goal! 460 cards were delivered to the Armed Forces Retirement Home in December. Thank you ladies for all your hard work!