Our mission is to provide a monthly luncheon, gift bags, and pantry items to the wounded, injured, and ill combat Veterans, all service branches, and their families, at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. We would like them to know they are in the hearts and prayers of America, as we bring "touches of home" for them to their "home away from home."
We are not affiliated in
any way with, nor are we endorsed by, the USMC or the DoD.
We are a loosely knit group of caring volunteers. Founded by Marine Moms, we are military parents, troop supporters, and Veterans who deeply appreciate the sacrifices made by our military. What we do is made possible by donations. Every penny donated is used toward our mission.
With the help of one of our friends, the winning name for the "Maid of Honor" raffle quilt was drawn Thursday during our BBQ at Mercy Hall.
And the lucky winners of this beautiful quilt are Tom and Marcia A. of Maryland!
Thank you to everyone who participated in this year's raffle.
The quilt raffle raised $1,308.00 and every penny will be used for the luncheons, pantry bags, and gift bags at the hospital.
This past spring
the son of one of our volunteers was wounded in
Afghanistan.
She and her family
have seen ”both sides” of our lunceons and she had this to say:
“It truly is an honor and privilege to help serve the luncheons at
Bethesda 5 East.It’s such a little thing, but bringing
home-cooked food for the Wounded, their families, and for the staff that
tirelessly tends our Heroes gives them a break from institutional food.
As one who has been a luncheon volunteer, and then a recipient of
the delicious food, goodie bags, and the outpouring of love while my son
was a patient, I say
THANK YOU for supporting Marine Moms-Bethesda.”
You can continue
reading about the June 27th luncheon, “Down But Not Defeated”, here.
If you would like to send a note of encouragement and support to the wounded combat Veterans at Bethesda, please email it to "notes4bethesda@ marinemoms-bethesda.org" (remove the space in the addy).
We collect these notes on an ongoing basis and we do not use the same note twice since often times we see the same faces each time we go.The notes are formatted into a word document and hand delivered at our luncheons to patients or their family members.
They ARE appreciated! Just a few minutes of your time makes a HUGE impact.What a great way to say
"Thank you for your service!"
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Upcoming Luncheons As of August 21, 2010:
September 1 - Our "Holiday Cheer at Bethesda" holiday and Christmas card collection begins! More details coming in SOON!
5 Center - Sunday, September 26
Mercy Hall - Thursday, October 28.
5 Center - Sunday November 14
Mercy Hall - Thursday, Dec. 2
(“Holiday Cheer at Bethesda")
This is Marine Moms-Bethesda's protocol for serving meals on 5 East and at Mercy Hall:
COMBAT patients and their families first.
ALL service branches.
After the combat patients and their families are served others are more than welcome to join us!
Luncheons by Marine Moms-Bethesda are made possible by
generous "Elfs" and our fabulous Luncheon Crew Members!
We are Marine Moms. When each of our
sons became a Recruit, completed The Crucible, and received
his hard-earned Eagle, Globe and Anchor, we didn’t
know it at the time, but we became a part of the United
States Marine Corps Family. Eventually we connected to
others in the Marine Family who, like us, supported their
loved ones when they became One of the Few and the Proud.
Marines Take Care of Their Own, and we are Marine Moms
taking care of our Sons by another Mother.
