While the celebration of Independence Day on July 4 may have made Americans think back to the moment in Philadelphia in 1776 when the Founding Fathers declared citizens of the 13 colonies free from English rule, owners of several Lancaster County bed-and-breakfasts were thinking of those serving overseas. At least four local innkeepers joined in an Independence Day initiative that sent cookies, socks, banana bread, and toothpaste to members of the U.S. military deployed overseas in an effort dubbed "Inn Support of Our Troops."
Rebecca Gallagher of the Historic Smithton Inn, 900 W. Main St., Ephrata, said she jumped at the chance to take part in the project, noting that "veterans are a soft spot for me." Rebecca, who owns the inn with her husband, Dave, served as co-chair of the committee that built Veterans Plaza in Ephrata with the Winters Leadership Memorial statue as the centerpiece. After completion of the project, the group held a lecture series that gave area veterans a chance to share their stories. Each Veterans Day for a decade, the inn has reserved all seven guest rooms for free to veterans. "We love being able to give back and thank vets personally," she said. For the initiative, Rebecca sent a collection of the sweet breads she serves her guests, which include flavors such as strawberry nut, cinnamon butterscotch, banana, chocolate zucchini, and blueberry orange. "I think what's important for me is having the opportunity to make a (member of the military) smile and know that someone's thinking of them and thankful for them," said Rebecca. "If I can present a small gesture of my appreciation then I'm all in."
Pam and Dallas Fritz at the B.F. Hiestand House Bed & Breakfast, 722 E. Market St., Marietta, went for variety in their donation, sending a box stuffed with peanut butter oatmeal cookies, beef jerky, pork rinds, cheese crisps, hot sauce, green tea, ground coffee, candy, a mug, wet wipes, socks, and disposable razors as a care package to a service member in the Air Force stationed in Afghanistan. The pair noted that they have always supported the military by giving free rooms each year to veterans near Veterans Day and offering a discount to active-duty military year round. "We felt the need to support this endeavor," they said. The owners intend to continue the effort by making monthly gifts to active military members.
Jan Garrabrandt, who owns The Artist's Inn and Gallery, 117 E. Main St., Terre Hill, with her husband. Bruce, sent chocolate chip cookies and a dozen pairs of socks to an armed services member in mid-June. Both her father and her husband's father served in the Army. "We try to support the military in several ways," said Jan, who noted that a discount is available to veterans booking any room on any day of the year. "We also participate in the free rooms for veterans program for Veterans Day by giving away all the rooms at the inn to veterans. We've been doing this since we opened 24 years ago," Jan said.
Brenda Miller, proprietor of the Brownstone Colonial Inn, 590 Galen Hall Road, Reinholds, baked a fresh batch of chocolate chip and butterscotch chip cookies on the morning of June 23 to mail to a member of the military. She also enclosed a new pair of wool socks as packing and included a letter thanking the young man for his service. This was not Miller's first effort to support the troops. "Recently a young man from our church enlisted in the Marines, and we have been praying for him, along with other service personnel who have so graciously given of their time to protect our great nation," she said, adding that the opportunity to bake for an assigned member of the service was the least she could do to show support. "I hope to encourage our military to be courageous, to stand firm, and ultimately to trust in God for their hope and future," she said.
Inn Support of Our Troops was organized by Maria Coder, a public relations professional working with the Association of Lodging Professionals (ALP). The effort brought together more than 30 inns across the U.S. Inn Support of Our Troops worked with Soldiers' Angels participating as Angel Bakers, which gave volunteers access to a database with the first name and state of a service member who had expressed interest in receiving baked goods. Soldiers' Angels is a national charity providing aid, comfort, and resources to the military, veterans, and their families. Many of the participating inns were closed during the pandemic, which led to income loss and even financial hardship. The Inn Support of Our Troops effort gave bed-and-breakfast owners a chance to showcase their talents and reach out to members of the military serving far from home.
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