CAN YOU HELP A WORTHY CAUSE? A young vet in need…..

I am married to a retired Colonel in the U.S. Marines who is on a committee with Rotary trying to help veterans start a new life, and each year we collect Toys for Tots.    I am on the Board of the San Jose Travel Industry Professionals organization and every December, we have a fund raising dinner, and pick a local charity to give our funds to.     When I heard about the case I am going to tell you about, I thought it was a good idea to share this in case you would like to help.

Pam Blodgett, our past President, is a member of the Patriot Guardian Riders, and participated in the ground breaking ceremony for Army Sergeant Brian Jergens and his wife Jennifer when they moved into a new home in the South Bay.    Brian and Jennifer (aged 18) had been married for a few months when she got a call to say that Brian, an Army Medic had been gravely injured when his HUMVEE was hit by an improvised explosive device.  He lost his legs, brain injury, hearing loss, internal organ damage, a broken neck and severe damage to his right elbow.     They are both from this area, so after being in hospital in Germany, and Brook Army Medical Center, he got transferred to Palo Alto Veterans Hospital.     It has been two years of hell for him, and when they were told that the organization Homes for our Troops would be giving him a special adapted home on December 12, 2013, they were thrilled and moved to Hollister.    Last July, another miracle happened, they had a 7 pound boy, Jackson.   Last August, they were invited to AT&T Park to ceremoniously toss the first pitch at a Giants game which drew 50,000 spectators.

This young couple could use help since they are starting off their married life with little in the way of possessions.      If anyone would like to donate a gift card from one of the large stores such as Target, Safeway, Home Depot, Macys, etc.,  that would be great, or if you want to give a check, and take a tax deduction the check should be made out to Homes for Our Troops, noted for Brian Jergens Fund in the memo area.    You can send the donations to Maureen Jones, All Horizons Travel, 160 Main Street, Los Altos California 94022, and Attention: Brian Jergens Fund.    The San Jose Travel Professionals will be inviting the Jergens family to our meeting on February 11, 2014 to present what we have collected to them.  They don’t know that we are doing this for them.

Any questions, ring Maureen Jones 650-941-5810 or Pamela Blodgett at 408-246-2324

May God Bless you for helping this young couple.

 

Maureen Jones