By Kathy L. Collins
Center Place Fine Arts and The Community Roundtable will present the 9th Annual Cards For Troops on Saturday, October 1 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at Center Place located at 619 Vonderburg Dr. in Brandon.
Members of the community 16 years and older can come together to assemble 2,500 cards this year. All cards are left blank so that the troops can fill them out and send them to family and friends.
Lisa Rodriguez, marketing director for Center Place said, “Cards For Troops has grown into a fabulous community event where we come together as a strong and giving community and show our support for the troops. We have a wonderful committee of Stampin’ Up distributors who donate their time months ahead of the event to design, create and prepare the supplies needed to create the holiday cards. Then, volunteers gather at Center Place and work tirelessly to make cards in an easy step by step process.”
Janine Nickerson, president of The Community Roundtable said, “The Community Roundtable looks forward to this annual event. As partners with Center Place, the roundtable is proud to be a part of creating and sending this unexpected gift to our troops. The military personnel may not have access to a retail card shop. This provides them an opportunity to send a beautiful card back home. The blank cards allow the soldiers to send a personal message to friends and family. Over the years, we have received thank you cards from the soldiers thanking us for our community’s support.”
Rodriquez said, “If you have a loved one currently serving overseas, give us their address and we will send a box of cards to them.”
No experience is necessary to take part in this wonderful community event.
Organizers are seeking sponsors and donations of food for lunch for the card making volunteers. To make a donation of any kind including one that will help offset the cost of supplies and postage, contact Center Place at 685-8888 or cp@centerplacebrandon.org or contact the Community Roundtable at 661-4350 or roundtable2008@aol.com.
