Continuing a tradition that began in 2003, more than 80 Alston & Bird volunteers across the firm’s nine U.S. offices participated in this holiday season’s “Boxes for the Troops” initiative, organizing care packages for more than 150 active duty U.S. soldiers deployed overseas.
“For so many service members, the No. 1 holiday wish is a simple one: to be home,” said Richard Hays, Alston & Bird managing partner. “Sending small reminders of home to those who are far from their families during the holidays hopefully will make them miss home a little less.”
Included in the care packages are a variety of snack foods, candy, drink mixes, health and beauty items, board games, batteries, clothing, and reading materials. Each package also contains a personal note of thanks or encouragement and a piece of artwork created by the children of Alston & Bird employees.
This year’s packages also include a special touch from Heather Ripley, senior associate in the firm’s Federal & International Tax Group, who contributed her own digital art prints to help brighten soldiers’ living quarters.
As in previous years, Alston & Bird attorneys and staff submitted the names of deployed U.S. service members who would receive the packages. Each office then mobilized teams of volunteers to raise money, organize collection drives, and box up the packages.