February 11, 2016 | By LYNDA STRINGER

Photo by LYNDA STRINGER

Troops deployed overseas and military members of local families are getting some sweet treats for Valentine’s Day.

Ministering Our Military sent 25 care packages filled with Valentine candy and cards as part of a new aspect of its Holidays for Heroes campaign.

The group’s largest care package effort is for Christmas. This past December, they mailed more than 400 packages filled with snacks, necessities and Christmas cards.

“We decided last year that we were going to try to observe every holiday and we’re starting this year with Valentine’s Day,” said Kellye Cooper, M.O.M. co-founder. “Then, we plan to do Easter and the Fourth of July.”

The group also sends birthday care packages to each military member on its list.

“For those stationed stateside, our local MMs, we sent Valentine M&Ms candies and a Valentine’s Day card,” Cooper said. “For those deployed, we sent Little Debbie heart-shaped cakes, packages of Valentine’s candy and boxes of Sweethearts, the little candies with Valentine messages on them.”

Cooper said she hopes this lets troops know they aren’t forgotten throughout the year.

“A lot of people do stuff at Christmas, but obviously, they are there throughout the year, so we just want them to realize that we are always thinking about them, not just at Christmas and on their birthdays,” Cooper said.

Another addition to the group’s efforts is keeping in contact with Gold Star families – those whose military member lost their life. 

“Any time we send out packages for our military, we will send a card to our Gold Star families to let them know that we are thinking about them,” said KC Fortenberry, the group’s secretary. 

M.O.M. members signed Valentine’s Day cards for them at the group’s February meeting and they were mailed last Tuesday.

“This is just another way we can let them know that we care about them and pray for them daily. Their child’s sacrifice will not be forgotten,” Fortenberry said.

Cooper said the group has about 10 Gold Star families in the area that they are ministering to.

The next step for the group is to have a card campaign.

“We would like for groups of children or adults to make handmade cards for us,” Cooper said. “People can drop off signed cards or handmade cards and we can have them in stock for whenever we do a mail out. That way, people can be involved at other times, not just at Christmas.”

Lynda Stringer is a Mount Pleasant, TX-based freelance writer and owner of Stringer Media. Contact her at Lynda.Stringer@outlook.com.