The ROA Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas Chapter 18 Family Support Group sponsored a special Holiday Gift Drive for Local Military Families in the DFW area. During these unprecedented times, the need has been greater than the means and all donations big or small made a difference. The members of the family support group saw a need and decided to act. ROA FSG Chairman Anne Groskreutz initiated the idea for the national Family Support Group to provide the seed money from ROA in Washington, D.C.
Maj. Norma Cabanas, ROA President of Chapter 18, was the driving force behind the local effort and making it come to pass. Carolyn Hockley sent out emails to everyone in Chapter 18 and donated a computer. Through this campaign, the chapter raised $1,000. Special thanks to those who stepped up and made our project possible, especially Lt. Col. Douglas Gracey with a generous donation.
Col. Mark Marin coordinated between ROA in Washington and our local family support group. Maj. Cabanas had personal contact with an organization that assisted in identifying veteran families in need. She worked tirelessly with them to identify the families; and she purchased, wrapped, and delivered the gifts (while working full-time). Kudos and thanks to Maj. Cabanas. We concentrated on the following four Texas families:
- A veteran single mom who lost her job during the pandemic living in Fort Worth. Four children: three girls ages 12, 10, and four) and one boy age 10 with all four children were having to homeschool with only one iPad;
- A veteran single mom living in Corinth with two boys ages 13 and 15;
- A veteran single mom living in Northlake with three children: girl age 18, and two boys ages 12 and six;
- A veteran father who lost his job during COVID, his wife has continued to work but did not make enough to buy Christmas gifts. Boys 13, 12 and four; and girls 10 and 18 months.
We thank our ROA members who donated, Doug Brown for his time, talent and generosity, Chairman Groskreutz for her assistance in originating the project, and those who made it happen.
PHOTO CAPTION
A Christmas Miracle: WWII Veteran Doug Brown (95 yrs. young) provides free computer repair services to low-income seniors and to nonprofits. While Doug’s primary focus is on giving computers to Military Veterans, he gives them away to anyone in need, including students. And so, we tip our Christmas Cap to Vet Doug Brown!
When Doug Brown was asked by a friend who was preparing for retirement,
what he should do with his free time, his reply was: “Don’t retire, volunteer!
