Special thank you to JJ Brown Music for “Say a Little Prayer.”
The Hugs Project was started in June 2004 by Ray and Karen Stark in Edmond, OK as a labor of love. They wanted to make sure every American service member knows they are loved and appreciated by those who remain at home enjoying the freedom they provide.
Weekly Care Packages are sent as a labor of love by members of The Hugs Project.
Andrew (Tree) Branch receiving a care package during his deployment many years ago.
As the war winds to a close, we still have over 10,000 deployed Troops in Iraq as well as Honduras, the Ukraine, Jordan, Poland, Romania, Kuwait, Cuba, Africa, etc. They are having trouble getting supplies because the stores aren’t being restocked. The US Military doesn’t want to go off and leave tons of supplies for whoever comes in next. So, even basic items are hard to come by.
Our troops work hard every day and when they finally get a break and can receive mail from home, we want them to find care packages overflowing with snacks, hygiene items, DVD’s and CD’s, Oreos, socks and other much-needed items. Most of all, we want them to experience the love we’ll be tucking inside, along with cooling ties and other items that remind them someone cares.
Packing these boxes with items, and sending them out costs a lot of money. Whether you can help by sending us items to pack, or with monetary donations, any amount of help is appreciated. For a list of some items that we use in care packages, visit our Care Package Items page, or visit our Donation page to donate to our cause. No one in The Hugs Project draws a salary. All donations go directly toward supplies and care package items but also to our newest focus, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy.
We are now working with clinics in Oklahoma to help provide the most effective care for PTS (posttraumatic stress) and TBI (traumatic brain injury). The Hugs Project (through your generous donations) is funding care for returning Troops, Veterans and First Responders. No Military person in our therapy program will ever be asked to pay for treatment. They have already covered the price with their service to our country. Don’t you agree? Please consider setting up a recurring monthly donation. It is very much needed and will be used wisely to provide for some outstanding and brave young men and women.
The treatment is called hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) and it’s exciting to be on the ground floor of this effort. Studies in Israel and the U.S. have proven HBOT is the most effective treatment one can receive for brain injuries. If you want to learn more, visit the “About Us” page and please join our Facebook group (Hyperbaric Oxygen for Returning Troops and Veterans) at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/HBOTForTBI . You can also research “PTSd + Oxygen” on YouTube to learn more.
Here’s a picture of a Military Veteran undergoing treatment to heal a non-healing staph infection he got in his amputated leg while in the hospital. He had 10 visits in 2 weeks. The infection totally healed and the rest of the leg was saved from further amputation.
You can learn more about how you can become involved by sending an email via our Contact page. We are happy to help you get started supporting some of America’s finest young men and women.
I think it is so great what ya’ll are doing for them. That must make them feel so special that people think of and care about them.
Thank you, Sky.
I honestly agree, I also think that it’s amazing how god is working in the lives of people everywhere to serve and, fight for their country. Especially in today’s time, the world needs more people like us to help fight for and protect our homes and families
Thank you for serving our country.
I donate to several veteran groups, most to help veterans readjust and adapt homes due to loss of limbs. This charity is close to my heart because being deployed during Vietnam war and not receiving “care package” while deployed I know how it hurts and what a moral booster it is to receive one.
Dale, your longtime support of The Hugs Project is what enables us to continue taking care of Troops in harm’s way. We appreciate our donors more than words can ever express. You and Deb and donors like the two of you are the lifeblood of a small organization like Hugs.
THANK YOU!!!! And, as you know, VV’s are close to my heart. I sincerely thank you for serving our country and for the freedoms men and women like you afford our great nation. We are grateful!!!
Just going through my stuff from my 2011-2012 deployment from Afghanistan. And found some stuff from the Hug Project! I just wanted to say,Thank you for taking out the time to send a care package to our unit… It was great appreciated.
Hi Angela, we love hearing back from our dear troops. It is absolutely our honor to be able to serve in this small way. We really appreciate you for your kind message. If you live in the OKC area, we’d love to have you come by the office to help us pack some care packages. Each week, we send to places like Iraq, Poland, Honduras, Romania, Cuba and Africa.
We’re here for them as long as they are “over there” for us!!!
I would to volunteer!
I am Myrna Wood and I am one of ten core team members that make up the nonprofit organization Helping Soldiers in the Desert. I have attached our brochure and request form in hopes you can share our information and help us reach many more of our troops.
Si Tenenberg the former Marine who started this organization died two years ago and we are working hard to keep his mission going. Our biggest problem is obtaining the names and military addresses of deployed troops around the world. We used to get this information from anysoldier.com but in the last few months, very few names have been added. We have sent boxes to everyone on the list.
Do you have a source you will share with us? In our heyday, before the pandemic, we were packing and mailing 50 boxes per week. We are now down to 10-15 boxes every two or three weeks. We are strictly a volunteer organization, part of the Welcome Home Military Heroes family and their 501(c)3. We have staff, location, supplies and financial stability. What we don’t have are troops to whom to send packages.
This note to you is a plea for help to find those whom we can help by sending care packages. We have thousands of troops stationed around the world and we are desperate to find a way to reach out to them.
Thank you for any help you can send our way.
I love this organization, and I cannot thank you all enough for all the help and support that you are giving our Soldiers here in Poland! God bless you all!