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“When I got to the barracks, all I thought I had to look forward to was a naked mattress and an empty stomach,” said a soldier returning from Iraq after a 38-hour trip home. But to his surprise, he found his bed made, and snack and hygiene items were in his room.

This is one of the missions of Hugs for Our Soldiers, a nonprofit organization with headquarters in Vonore. Hugs President Kathy Orcutt said the recent Welcome Home campaign was focused on the single soldiers returning to barracks that are empty of everything.

“The married soldiers are greeted by their spouses and are able to return to the comforts of their homes,” Orcutt said. “We want to make sure that the single soldiers’ barracks are warm and welcoming as well.”

Word of this Welcome Home campaign for the 2nd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, returning from Iraq just in time for Thanksgiving, reached Blount, Loudon, Monroe and Knox Counties. Over 1,000 people donated goods or money so that each of these 1,500 soldiers received food and hygiene items and found colorful Welcome Home signs decorating their rooms.

Alcoa Middle School, Heritage 9th Grade Academy, Little River Service Unit (Girl Scouts), Hillcrest Baptist Church and Walland Methodist Church took the time to personalize their snack bags with Welcome Home cards.

No sooner did this campaign come to an end than did Hugs kick off its “Christmas for Our Soldiers” drive. Gallon ziplock bags were lined with Christmas paper and a variety of goodies were placed inside. Business owner Lisa Thomas of Lisa Thomas Salon in Alcoa and her clients contributed over 100 Christmas packages. Teacher Leigh Terry’s 120 students of Heritage Middle School made cards for each of their bags.

Orcutt explained that some of their packages would be shipped to CPT Molly Price, a Marine helicopter pilot in Afghanistan, who will then distribute the gifts to the Marines out at the FOB’s. Local Army Reservists who are in Iraq will receive Christmas packages, as will soldiers of the 4th Brigade, 101st Airborne who have been in Afghanistan since March.

“I am always amazed, but never surprised, at the number of people that come together to show their support of our military men and women. Patriotism shines in East Tennessee,” Orcutt said.