Care Packages Assembled At Coast Guard Headquarters Bring Welcome Relief
The Coast Guard Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to the education, welfare and morale of all Coast Guard members and their families, announced today the distribution of care packages to the Coast Guard men and women providing disaster relief efforts in Haiti. The first organization on the ground following the devastating earthquake, the Coast Guard continues to provide humanitarian relief to those affected.
On February 4, 2010 at Coast Guard Headquarters, volunteers gathered to assemble care packages for the more than 200 Coast Guard personnel actively working in Haiti who are not attached to a cutter or other unit where these items are readily available. Care package items include nuts, high-protein bars, dried fruit, water, candy, sunscreen, sunglasses and shaded hats.
“These care packages are exactly why the Coast Guard Foundation exists; to provide morale support and tangible aid to Coast Guard men and women who are doing incredibly difficult work under incredibly difficult circumstances,” said Anne Brengle, president of the Coast Guard Foundation. “We are immensely proud of our dedicated Guardians and the work they are doing in Haiti, and we are honored to do just this small part to provide them with some relief and comfort.
Since first arriving on the scene following the January 12th quake, the Coast Guard reopened the port to allow additional aid to arrive on scene and has been instrumental in providing relief to injured people and transportation for them to safe ground. In addition, Coast Guard members are helping Haitian Americans who were in Haiti at the time of the earthquake return to the states.
Coast Guard Foundation President Anne Brengle, Vice-President of Corporate Giving Patti Gross and Foundation Director James Coleman, Jr. all took part in assembling the care packages. “When Coast Guard members receive these packages, we hope they will know that many people are thankful and appreciative of the work they are doing in Haiti and everywhere else they are deployed,” continued, Ms. Brengle.

The Coast Guard Foundation, through its Disaster Relief Fund, is also standing by to assist US Coast Guard members who were stationed in Haiti when the earthquake struck. In addition, the Foundation is funding the purchase of thirty international calling cards for Coast Guard personnel currently working from the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in support of the Haitian relief effort. The calling cards will give the members an opportunity to call home and connect with their families and friends.