Category Archives: Service Projects

Suggestions Reviewed – We Need Some More!

Honor Our Veterans, News, Service Projects

veteransWe had several name suggestions submitted for consideration in renaming the Helping Our Heroes Program. After much discussion with Mary and Art James, it has been decided to leave the renaming suggestion period open until next week.

Here are some that have been sent in so far:

  • Soldier’s Supply
  • Soldier’s Servants
  • Thank a Soldier
  • Saint’s Soldier’s Supply
  • Caring Christian’s Soldier’s Supply
  • Caring Quartermaster’s Soldier’s Supply
  • Comforting Quartermaster’s Soldier’s Supply
  • Soldiers Sweepers
  • They serve US well
  • They serve U.S. well
  • Helping Hands
  • Scrub-a-soldier services …. more than just cleaning

Post your ideas on our Facebook page or submit them through the Contact form on this site. We had originally requested that words Soldier, Soldiers or Military be used, but we are open to all thoughtful suggestions.

Keep Your Ideas Coming!

News, Service Projects

We have been getting some good suggestions for the renaming of the “Helping Our Heroes” program. Several people have suggested including the word “Military” in the title. We agree – so keep sending your ideas and be sure they include either of the following words: Soldier, Soldiers or Military.

We are going to continue collecting suggestions through April 12 and then will set up a poll for everyone to vote on their favorites! Click here for more details on prizes!

Post your ideas below, or head on over to the HAYS Cleaning Facebook page and share them there!

Remembering Heroes All Year Long

Our Local Heroes, Service Projects, , , ,
Mary James, from HAYS Cleaning, Inc., presents checks to Jim Kruse. The funds will be used to purchase goods and ship boxes to troops overseas. Also pictured, Jim's granddaughter.
Mary James, from HAYS Cleaning, Inc., presents checks to Jim Kruse. The funds will be used to purchase goods and ship boxes to troops overseas. Also pictured, Jim’s granddaughter.

This past Veterans Day, HAYS Cleaning partnered with the St. Patricia Holy Name Society and local Adopt-a-Platoon member, Jim Kruse, to gather care package items for the troops. HAYS Cleaning customers and friends donated many bags of items, as well as cash donations to help purchase other items. 

While everyone seems to remember the troops during the Christmas season, Jim, and his group of volunteers, remembers them every month with regular shipments of care packages.

Read more here.

Holiday Mail for Heroes

Honor Our Veterans, News, Service Projects

If you are interested in supporting our troops this Christmas season by sending a card, please send them to:

Holiday Mail for Heroes
PO BOX 5456
Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456

Cards must be postmarked by December 7, 2012 and must follow these guidelines:

  • Ensure that all cards are signed.
  • Use generic salutations such as “Dear Service Member.” Cards addressed to specific individuals can not be delivered through this program.
  • Only cards are being accepted. Do not send or include letters.
  • Do not include email or home addresses on the cards: the program is not meant to foster pen pal relationships.
  • Do not include inserts of any kind, including photos: these items will be removed during the reviewing process.
  • Please refrain from choosing cards with glitter or using loose glitter as it can aggravate health issues of ill and injured warriors.
  • If you are mailing a large quantity of cards, please bundle them and place them in large mailing envelopes or flat rate postal shipping boxes. Each card does not need its own envelope, as envelopes will be removed from all cards before distribution.
This image is circulating on Facebook that requests all cards be sent to Walter Reed Hospital. DO NOT SEND CARDS THERE! They will NOT be delivered!

There is an image circulating on Facebook that requests all cards be sent to Walter Reed Hospital. DO NOT SEND CARDS THERE! They will NOT be delivered!

 

 

 

 

 

Read more about this here: http://www.snopes.com/politics/christmas/walterreed.asp

Read more about the Red Cross Holiday Mail for Heroes here: http://www.snopes.com/politics/christmas/soldiercards.asp and here: http://www.redcross.org//ca/los-angeles/ways-to-donate/individual-gifts/holiday-mail-for-heroes

For Veterans: Healthy Minds Healthy Bodies

Articles, Honor Our Veterans, News, Service Projects, ,

Healthy Minds Healthy Bodies is a program offered to veterans. Currently, the program has groups Illinois, Indiana and Maryland, with plans to expand nationwide.

This past Wednesday, I had the privilege of visiting members of the group at the Oak View Center, part of the Oak Lawn Park District, in Oak Lawn Illinois. My original purpose was to share the news about the free 3-hour housecleaning offered by HAYS Cleaning. I ended up visiting with a great group of veterans, sharing a snack and playing a trivia game. I also learned about this great program, offered for free to our local Veterans.

The Oak Lawn group has several activities and outings scheduled that may be of interest to area veterans and their families:

  • December Social – Saturday, December 15, 2012 – Activity: Lincoln Park Zoo Lights and Dessert Afterwards. Group will depart from Oak View Center, 4625 W. 110th St, in Oak Lawn, at 4:00pm. We will get to explore the beautiful displays of Winter Wonderland Bliss and on our way home we will stop at Bakers Square for dessert and warm beverages. Return time TBD. Bus transportation will be provided to and from activity. You must RSVP for yourself and guests by Wednesday, December 12, to Jacqueline Canty at 708-857-2200 or jcanty@olparks.com.
  • January Social – Wednesday, January 16, 2013 – Activity: Light Dinner and Crafts. We will meet at the Dream Center, 9600 E. Shore Drive, at 4:00pm, for crafts and a light dinner. Rose Schmidt, from the Office of Veteran Affairs, will be providing craft kits for us to complete. Bring your creative juices and also bring some guests. You must RSVP for yourself and guests by Wednesday, January 9, to Jacqueline Canty at 708-857-2200 or jcanty@olparks.com.

Visit the Healthy Minds Healthy Bodies website at http://healthymindshealthybodies.org.

To find a participating facility in your area visit http://healthymindshealthybodies.org/hmhblocations

Veterans Get a FREE 3 Hour Housecleaning

News, Service Projects

HAYS Cleaning, Inc. is pleased to present the “Helping Our Heroes” Veterans Day Special!
Download information packet here. 

HAYS Cleaning will provide a complimentary 3-hour residential cleaning for Veterans of the United States Military, spouses of active servicemen and parents of veterans or servicemen.

To take advantage of this offer, please contact HAYS Cleaning by calling 708-598-3819 or emailing mary@hayscleaning.com. Call or email by November 30, 2012, to schedule your appointment for services within 30 days. Veteran or current Military Identification must be provided in order to receive the complimentary cleaning. Limit one complimentary cleaning per household. Offer valid for new and existing residential customers. (Service to locations outside of our normal service area may be required to purchase additional service hours.)

HAYS Cleaning is also collecting Care Package items for Soldiers stationed overseas. HAYS Cleaning is partnering with the St. Patricia Holy Name Society to collect and ship items to the troops. (Download information packet with item list here.)

Drop off boxes are located at several locations in the area:

  • The American Bagel (Palos Heights)
  • The Palos Hills Community Center
  • The Hickory Hills Community Center
  • The Hickory Hills City Hall
  • Roberts Road Bible Church
Monetary donations are accepted and may be made payable to “St. Patricia HNS.” Items may also be dropped off at the HAYS Cleaning office, 9428 S. 78th Court, Unit #3, Hickory Hills, IL 60457, 10am-6pm, from now through November 30, 2011.
Supporters will be listed on the supporters page here on the  “Helping Our Heroes” website.

HAYS Cleaning Inc. has been established for over 30 years and has grown from a hobby of owner/operator Mary James. The people at HAYS Cleaning want to make a difference, not just do a job! We believe liking what you do for “a living” delivers results our clients see and value.

HAYS Cleaning, Inc. is located at 9428 S. 78th Ct., #3, Hickory Hills, IL 60457. For more information on the “Helping Our Heroes” offer or the Care Packages, please call 708-598-3819, visit www.hayscleaning.com or email mary@hayscleaning.com.

Homes 4 Heroes

Articles, News, Service Projects, ,

Kudos to Homes 4 Heroes, an organization that helps rebuild homes for our veterans. 

There is a wonderful article about this organization into the Tinley Park Patch here http://tinleypark.patch.com/articles/local-group-moved-to-rebuild-homes4heroes.

The mission of the Homes 4 Heroes:

Our wounded warriors returning to their homes are faced with a variety of accessibility problems. Homes 4 Heroes, a charitable organization, donates a wide range of services at no charge to allow our heroes to properly access and use their homes. We are a group of citizens who saw an unacceptable situation and needed to act. We saw our wounded soldiers rescued and wonderfully nursed back from their injuries only to be sent home to houses that were never meant to accommodate their disabilities. 

We think they deserve more. Hopefully you will find a way to join us in helping these heroes.

Visit their site at http://www.homes4heroes.us/

Helping Our Heroes: Past & Present

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As the days of May become warmer, we are all getting ready for Memorial Day.Take advantage of this special offer by HAYS Cleaning and also consider supporting our service men and women by contributing to care packages. HAYS Cleaning, with the help of local businesses and individuals, sent 15 boxes to the troops overseas last December. We hope to send another shipment this July.

 

May 16, 2012 – HAYS Cleaning, Inc. is pleased to announce the “Helping Our Heroes” Past and Present Special! This event honors Memorial Day, and the many Americans who served in the United States Armed Forces, as well as recognizing Independence Day and the men and women who continue to protect our freedoms today.

In recognition of Memorial Day, HAYS Cleaning will provide a complimentary residential cleaning for Veterans of the United States Military, spouses of active servicemen and parents of veterans or servicemen. This complimentary service will include up to three (3) hours of residential housecleaning.

To take advantage of this offer, please contact HAYS Cleaning by calling 708-598-3819 or emailing mary@hayscleaning.com. Call or email by June 8, 2012, to schedule your appointment for services within 30 days. Veteran or current Military Identification must be provided in order to receive the complimentary cleaning. Limit one complimentary cleaning per household. Offer valid for new and existing residential customers. (Service to locations outside of our normal service area may be required to purchase additional service hours.)

In recognition of Independence Day, HAYS Cleaning will also be collecting Care Package items for Soldiers stationed overseas who continue to protect our freedoms. Items may be dropped off at Roberts Road Bible Church, 8419 S. Roberts Road, Justice, IL 60458, Monday-Saturday, 10am-2pm, from now through July 4, 2012. HAYS Cleaning will be sponsoring the shipment of the items to military locations. Monetary donations for the care packages may be sent to HAYS Cleaning or Roberts Road Bible Church; please make your check payble to “HAYS Cleaning, Inc.” and label your donation “Care Packages for Soldiers.”

Supporters will be listed on the “Helping Our Heroes” website, sponsored by HAYS Cleaning, at http://www.helping-our-heroes.com.

Roberts Road Bible Church is a “Light House,” located at 8419 S. Roberts Road, Justice, IL 60458. People from various backgrounds come here to be touched by the “Hero’s Hand.” For more information on the church, please call 708-598-2330 or visit http://www.rrbchurch.org.

HAYS Cleaning Inc. was established in 1979 and has grown from a hobby of owner/operator Mary James. The people at HAYS Cleaning want to make a difference, not just do a job! We believe liking what you do for “a living” delivers results our clients see and value.

HAYS Cleaning, Inc. is located at 9428 S. 78th Ct., #3, Hickory Hills, IL 60457. For more information on the “Helping Our Heroes” offer or the Care Packages, please call 708-598-3819, visit www.hayscleaning.com or email mary@hayscleaning.com.

When a Helper Becomes a Hero

Articles, Service Projects

I picked up the Southtown Star Newspaper today and the cover story was about Eugene Twardy, a World War 2 veteran. Mr. Twardy is 85 years old. At the end of many months, he struggles to make ends meet, often having to choose between buying food and medicine. On many of these months, he asks for donations at the very busy intersection of Pulaski Road and 63rd Street, in Chicago.

As I continued to read the story, I learned that through the years Eugene and his wife, Elaine, raised several children. He worked for most of his life, he earned two Master’s degrees and he came into hard times financially mainly due to medical issues experienced by both he and his wife.

Reading further, I discovered that a Good Samaritan, Edward Sajdak, stopped last fall to give the veteran $10. It seems the two have since struck up a friendship of sorts, with Eugene referring to Edward as his “Santa.”

I admire Eugene for wanting to maintain his independence. I am saddened, however, that a veteran, a man who worked hard his whole life, has to resort to begging for donations to make ends meet. He should not have to choose between food and medicine, nor should he have to beg for money to close that $200 gap at the end of the month.

May God bless Mr. Sajdak, and all of the other folks who take the time to help our veterans. One person can make a difference.

One further note: The article mentioned Mr. Sajdak is a Cook County Deputy Sheriff; turns out he is also my husband’s chief at the Criminal Court House. For those who often have a dim view of our law enforcement professionals, stories like this one about one man helping another prove that anyone can be a hero.

~Karen

Do you know someone else who has helped one of our heroes? Send us your story by filling out the form on the “Contact Us” page!

Read the full article here: http://southtownstar.suntimes.com/10049605-522/wwii-vet-holds-tight-to-his-freedom-even-if-it-means-begging-to-get-by.html

The Donations Were Shipped!

News, Service Projects

Often, I hear people say, “God is good.”  Another phrase I hear quite a bit is “Many hands make light the work.”

Both of those phrases are so true and I could see Him working through the many supporters who graciously donated goods, money and time to collect, pack and ship items to our troops overseas.

Many thanks to this fine crew for packing the boxes!

I am please to announce that HAYS Cleaning was able to ship out 15 boxes of goods to our troops this past Monday. The soldiers will be receiving a variety of items: snack foods, socks, Bibles, books, games, cigarettes, harmonica’s, kazoos, candy, snack crackers and more. Along with all of the material items, good thoughts and prayers were stashed inside each box, wishing our servicemen and women a Merry Christmas and a safe return home.

May God bless everyone who participated in this program to make it so successful!

For more photos from this project, visit the Care Package Collection Fall 2011 Gallery page.