Santa Clarita Residents Support Overseas Military Troops – A group of Santa Clarita residents came together and made care packages for military personnel overseas

February 17th marks National Random Act of Kindness Nights, and Santa Clarita resident Maggie-Mae Laufman, whose spouse is currently enlisted as active duty in the United States Navy stationed at Pt. Mugu, CA, hosted a random act of kindness night on Monday evening. After gathering a group of women interested in helping her with her idea, she requested one favor from each of them: to bring one, two, or countless items that could help make a care package for a military individual overseas. The wave of dedication to her cause was overwhelming.
As a current military family, living in Santa Clarita, the idea came to Maggie-Mae after she volunteered at Operation Gratitude, based out of Chatworth, CA. Operation Gratitude sends 200,000+ care packages annually filled with food, entertainment, hygiene, and handmade items, plus personal letters of appreciation to Veterans, First Responders, New Recruits, Wounded Heroes, their care givers, and to individually named U.S. Service Members deployed overseas and their families waiting at home. After volunteering herself, and her spouse, Petty Officer 3rd Class Kyle Gaughan, she had the idea of hosting her own Operation Gratitude party here in Santa Clarita.
Even local businesses in Santa Clarita joined in the efforts, offering large discounts on many items. Alyssa Fitzgibbons, an employee at Steinmart in Stevenson Ranch, helped discount scarves to be donated to the troops.
“I had such a great time doing this, and meeting such wonderful women dedicated to the cause.” Stated Jaisa Creps, one of the volunteers at the gathering who is also a veteran family living in Santa Clarita. “We donated stationary items, like paper and pens, so that the troops are able to write home to their families.”
“One of the most rewarding experiences someone can have in life, is when they take a moment to press pause on their own life, and move forward towards helping someone else’s. Thousands of deployed troops around the world sacrifice their lives daily for us here at home base and it’s important to bring that awareness to the local communities and give back. I am honored to have been a part of something where I met some beautiful and remarkable women, and their families.” Stated Maggie-Mae Laufman, the organizer of the event. “We even had an arts & crafts table set up for everyone’s kids to make personal cards for our troops, thanking them for their service.”