By Diana Henry - bio | email | Twitter | Facebook | Blog
CAMBRIA (WKOW)-- The terror attacks on 9-11 moved us all in different ways. A woman in Cambria, about an hour northeast of Madison, continues to be moved.
We honor Linda Hughes as July's Jefferson Award Recipient, in recognition of her selfless dedication to helping service members and their families. Linda Hughes is 'Someone You Should Know.'
The kids at this day school in Cambria know what it means to be patriotic.
Thanks to their teacher, Linda Hughes.
"The caring to be an American is so important," said Linda Hughes.
Linda volunteers about 40 hours a week at Rascals and Rockers, a Christian day school.
She also volunteers about 20 hours a week sending care packages to troops called 'A Case of Caring and Sharing.' Linda started it after the terror attacks on 9-11.
"And I knew that the people in the military's lives were going to change forever," said Linda.
2 days later, Linda mailed her first letter. Now, 9 years later...
"So far, 16,107 and by the time this mailing is finished it will be 16,150," said Linda.
Every 2 weeks, Linda sends out care packages filled with treats, letters, pillow cases even decorated with pictures of family to Service Members overseas.
"I thought it was going to be a few months," said Linda. "I didn't know it was going to change my life that much."
And Linda gets help from some little hands.
"There's a time to give and a time to receive," said Linda.
The kids help pack and hold fund raisers.
"They'll come running in the morning and say I have a picture here," said Linda. "I say do you want to mail it? Yes, I do."
And they get mail in return from the troops.
Linda has even sent care packages to a man she once taught as a toddler: 2nd Lieutenant Johnathan Meyer.
Jon was a wonderful preschooler, so it's no wonder he is a wonderful man and wonderful father," said Linda.
The deployed Service Members aren't the only ones who get thoughts from home. The families of the deployed also get care packages.
"When he was deployed, Lillian and I still received a package," said Rachel Jenkins, who's husband is deployed. "So they sent one to him and us in Italy."
"His favorite gift, of course, was the pillow case with the pictures of the kids and family that he got to sleep with every night," said Michelle Litzer, who's husband was deployed.
Linda would love to be 'out of a job' as she puts it. That would mean our troops would be home. Until then, Linda and her little helpers will continue to pack up cases of caring.
"How can you just stop?" said Linda. "You can't."
Linda certainly needs donations to help pay for the mailings. But even more importantly Linda told me she wants names and address of deployed Service Members. She has heard back from so many saying how a letter really made their day.
Click here to find out how you can donate or send Service Member addresses to Linda at Rascals & Rockers.
