By Christine Bolaños

Monday, 19 December 2011

On Saturday, a group of soldiers from Ft. Hood, picked up gifts from Just Because Christmas Project to deliver to families of wounded soldiers. They are part of an effort to get more Ft. Hood soldiers to volunteer in the community.

This year marked the first time wounded soldiers’ families are included to receive gifts from Just Because Christmas Project, a nonprofit program that aims to help families who are not receiving aid from other holiday support groups in the area.

Close to 50 military families received monetary aid and Christmas gifts.

Tino Hernandez, spokesperson for Just Because Christmas Project, said Heroes Night Out—a Cedar Park-based organization that works to help and show appreciation to military veterans—recommended the families.

“What they [Heroes Night Out] do for veterans is just absolutely amazing,” said Dav Corradini who spent eight-and-a-half years in the Marine Corps and is disabled. “I try to give as much as I possibly can and do as much as I can for the veterans. It’s standard comradery.”

Another veteran, who volunteered at the Just Because gift pick-up and delivery on Saturday at Hernandez Middle School in Round Rock, said volunteering is just another form of serving his country.

“I spent 21 years in the military. I’m a retired master sergeant,” Will Williams said. “I’m too old to stay on active duty so this is my way of serving.”

Just Because Christmas Project served a total of about 600 families in need this season. Families are identified through local schools, the Williamson County Health District and other local agencies.

People can help a family identified by Just Because by becoming a family sponsor and donating wish list items; making monetary donations; or by donating clothes, toys or nonperishable foods.

“Yesterday made it so special for our family. There was a lady that come over with her two kids that was in tears. She came over to thank us and hugged us,” Hernandez said. “People don’t realize that some veterans aren’t being helped.”

Just Because Christmas Project
Austin Diocese Medical Mission
259-5746
110 Raley Road, Cedar Park
www.austindiocesemedicalmission.org/justbecause.html