Military Appreciation Program - Free Gift Registry

My name is Ann M. Cosgrove. I am a graphic artist in Rockville and the originator of a military appreciation program called Hands Touching Hearts. We make thank-you gifts for active-duty service members, reservists and veterans. To learn more about my program, visit www.OurHands.work.

Every week I present events where people decorate the gifts, so I have free gifts to distribute on an ongoing basis. My budget doesn’t allow for mailing gifts to individual recipients. Instead, I distribute the gifts in groups of 10 or more. Each gift is a small token of appreciation, but it represents a world of thanks!

A little background…my father served in the Army Air Forces during World War II; there’s a tracing of his hand on all the gifts. My mother worked on the home front during World War II; there’s a tracing of her hand on all the gifts. I make the gifts with my hands, and members of the community decorate some aspect of each gift with their hands.

At this time, I have free gifts for the following groups:

* Service members who are just beginning their military careers. You could distribute these gifts at a graduation from basic training, for example.

* Deployed units of active-duty service members. These gifts are great reminders of home.

* Men and women who are transitioning from the military to civilian life. One way to give out these gifts is at a retirement ceremony.

* Members of the military who have also served our communities as first responders. These gifts are especially for police officers, firefighters and emergency medical technicians.

* Vietnam veterans. One idea is to present these gifts at a reunion.

To request the free gifts, send an email to Annspirations@aol.com. In the email, include:

* Your name; it is not necessary to include the names of all gift recipients.

* The group or groups you want to honor and the number of gifts you are requesting per group.

* How you will distribute the gifts.

* Whether or not your request is date sensitive. For example, if you want gifts for a graduation from basic training, include the date of the ceremony.

Before emailing, please note the following:

* Each gift comes with a thank-you letter for the recipient.

* Gift requests are only accepted via email, not by phone, text message or regular mail.

* Requests are usually granted in the order in which they are received. In some instances, date-sensitive requests take precedence.

* You must be willing to pick up the gifts at a mutually convenient time and place in Vernon.

* Request the exact number of gifts that you will distribute, not extras. This ensures that none of the gifts will be wasted.

* I will acknowledge all requests and make every effort to fulfill each one. If that is impossible for some reason, I will let you know.

* This announcement will be deleted and reposted based on the number of requests received. I make all the gifts…and I only have two hands!