Adopt a Soldier- Fort Bragg

On a recent show I mentioned the Adopt a Soldier program through Fort Bragg and many of you have requested more information. It's my understanding the primary contact person for the program is Vicky Lee, from Community Relations. Her contact information is vicky.lee@us.army.mil or 910-396-5401. Below is a copy of a letter from Vicky Lee about the program:


Fort Bragg's "Adopt A Soldier" Program gives the civilian community an opportunity to show their support of deployed Soldiers on an individual and personal basis. The "adoption" involves sending letters and care packages for the duration of the Soldier's deployment (usually a year).

The Soldiers who sign up to participate in the program are from units based here at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Although the majority of the Soldiers participating are younger/lower enlisted; any Soldier interested in receiving support/recognition may participate in the program. We do not maintain any personal information on the Soldiers for this program (i.e. age, race, marital status, etc.).

Most people try to send a letter once a week and a care package once a month. It usually takes at least 7-10 days for a letter to reach them; and 10-14 days for packages. You must fill out a customs form for each care package listing the enclosed items, their weight and their cost.You can call the Expedited Package Supply Center at 1-800-610-8734 and ask for a priority mail "Military Kit." They will send you boxes, envelopes, tape, customs forms...everything you need! There should be"special" boxes in the kit with a red circle that have "Flat Rate Box"on them. You put as much as you possibly can into these boxes and regardless of the weight, the post office will send them for a flat rate of $8.10. Some of them can buy snack food and hygiene items at little stores the Army has set up...but others are in too remote of areas.

Thanks again for wanting to show your support of our heroes,

Vicky

Ministering to Others on Thanksgiving Day

Feel the desire to serve this Thanksgiving? Here are just a couple of places in our area that are looking for volunteers on Thanksgiving Day:


On Thanksgiving Day, the Northside Community Church (of Knightdale) prepares and cooks meals for over 500 area individuals and families. If you would like to help, the meals are prepared at the Family Circus Restaurant, which is located on Wake Forest Road in downtown Raleigh, from 8:00a.m. to 2:00p.m. (Contact them at 919-261-8929.)


The Durham Rescue Mission, located on Main St. in Durham, also provides opportunities for volunteers. On Thanksgiving Day, the Mission hosts their Annual Thanksgiving Community Dinner. In addition to serving a free Thanksgiving meal, the Mission gives away free groceries and clothing, including winter coats. Volunteers are needed for a number of activities, including site set-up, meal preparation and clean-up, and the distribution of clothing and groceries. Staff is also needed to operate game booths for the children that will be in attendance. Donations of food and clothing are also welcomed. (Contact them at 919-688-9641.)

Recipe Swap- Best Thanksgiving Side Dishes

The best recipes tend to be "a pinch of this and a dash of that." My personal favorite among the Thanksgiving recipes happens to be on a cherished water-stained yellow Post-it note of chicken scrawls I wrote while on the phone with my mom 13 years ago on my first married Thanksgiving. My mother's sweet potatoes (yams) are all the rage in our family and once my husband tried them, he made sure I called Mom on Thanksgiving to get the recipe. This year I'm in charge of sweet potatoes at the preschool Thanksgiving dinner and will bring them along to Andrew's Aunt Donna's gathering in Virginia Thanksgiving Day. What about you... what's that dish that you love to make and others can't seem to get enough of? Post your favorite Thanksgiving Side Dish so we can all have a tastier Thanksgiving!

Bette Ann's (Brittney's Mom) Famous Sweet Potatoes


*Melt in a saucepan a 1/2 Stick of Margarine
*Add 1/3 C. Orange Juice and 3/4 C. Brown Sugar

(Cook above ingredients until melted together and slight boil)

*In a small bowl combine 2 1/2 Tablespoons of Cornstarch and water until smooth. Add this mixture to the other ingredients in the saucepan to thicken sauce.

*Drain one large can of sweet potatoes (or yams) and put in casserole dish. Cover the sweet potatoes with sauce and cook at 350 degrees until bubbly (approximately 20 minutes.) Enjoy!!

Triangle Restaurants Open on Thanksgiving

One of the funniest and most heart-breaking scenes in holiday movies has to be in Tim Allen's Santa Clause (the original) when Dad burns the turkey, blasts it with the fire extinguisher, and ends up eating at Denny's... where they are all out of egg nog! Thanksgiving and Christmas meals are an intrinsic part of the celebration, so if you are looking to secure just the right resaurant (that does have egg nog, pumpkin pie, and all the other necessities) here is a blog I found that lists the restaurants in the Triangle that will be open on Thanksgiving Day.

http://blogs.newsobserver.com/food/restaurants-open-thanksgiving-day

Enjoy!

Helping Charities When Money is Tight

There are charities on every corner (sometimes literally!) during the holiday season. We want to give to them all, but when finances are tight, what can we do? Why not do what you are already doing... just maybe a little better! Organizations like the Raleigh Rescue Mission are able to help you plan your holiday travel and you can give to your favorite charity every time you shop at the supermarket! Check out this great link for 11 more ideas like these. Plus, don't forget the His Radio Blanket Bundles event (canned food and blanket drive) on Saturday, November 14th!

http://http://www.newsobserver.com/business/local_state/story/155733.html

And the Winners Are...

... The Deep Fried Snickers AND the Deep Fried HoHo! (I can't believe I ate the whole thing.) I thoroughly enjoyed eating the foods that you selected for me to eat at the State Fair. The Deep Fried Snickers and Deep Fried Ho Ho ended up tying as the foods you wanted me to try at the fair, so between the four members of my family we HAPPILY polished them off.

My personal favorite was the Snickers with yummy, melt-y, carmel-y, chocolate, plus the texture the peanuts provided. The HoHo had a nice cake-y structure surrounded by the deep fried batter, however the white filling was MIA. It appeared to have been baked out (or baked in.)

Thanks for your votes and thanks for the fun!

Deep Fried Suggestions- Vote for State Fair Food I Should Eat

If it can be skewered and fried, you'll find it for sale at the North Carolina State Fair. The latest delight on a stick: the deep fried HoHo (to go with its close cousin the deep fried Twinkie.) From deep fried candy bars to deep fried macaroni and cheese there is something for everyone.

I tend to be the funnel cake type, but I'd like to branch out and try something new. I will try the State Fair food that receives the most votes (comments) here prior to Friday's Jeremy Camp concert. (I'll even be sure to get a pic of me eating "His Radio's Best Loved [Fried] State Fair Food.")

Have you been to the State Fair this year? Tell me what fried food you'd recommend.