By: Erica Allaby
Residents will again be packing 400 Operation North State (ONS) boxes at Bermuda Village on Saturday, December 8, as they did last year. The boxes include letters from Governor Beverly Perdue and Senators Kay Hagan and Richard Burr. Congresswoman Virginia Foxx has promised to attend the packing party as well as Miss North Carolina and volunteer students from the Youth and Government Club at Forsyth Country Day School. Adrienne Core, Miss North Carolina 2010, with ONS founder Terry Snyder are shown in the second picture.
“We are at a remote location in Afghanistan. It was heartwarming to know that the people of North Carolina support us. As a former member of the North Carolina National Guard, it was a reminder of the good people in our state,” writes Special Agent Christopher C.
Letters like this one are proof that 2012 has been a productive year for Operation North State (ONS), a non-profit military support services organization, founded by Terry Snyder, a Winston-Salem native.*
Founded in November 2010, the Christmas Gift Box Project has been a huge success, shipping 1500 gift boxes, filled with North Carolina goodies, to the state’s deployed troops. It is the only Christmas gift box, giving a little taste of home during the holidays, that is offered by a military support organization in North Carolina. That’s one reason Bill Richard, the American Legion’s Department of North Carolina state commander, has designated Operation North State as the American Legion’s 2012 Project, sending hundreds of additional packages to Tar Heel troops.
“Each box has a retail value of around $140,” says Snyder. “Funding for the 2012 Christmas Gift Box Project began in September when companies, service organizations, and communities across the state showed support.” Donations and individual contributions have reduced the cost of each box to $35, including shipping.
Meanwhile, Snyder has added a new project: creating 500,000 new placements of the American Flag throughout North Carolina. This effort includes nine billboards, contributed by Fairway Outdoor Advertising with Duke Energy paying for the artwork.
“At least 80,000 people drive by these billboards daily,” Snyder says. “Our state is fortunate to host hundreds of national and international sporting events, festivals and business conferences. Through these events and venues, North Carolina can show our support for our military and send a patriotic message to the rest of the world.”
Anyone interested in volunteering or donating to Operation North State may visit its website www.operationnorthstate.com.
*Over the past 18 years, Terry has founded several companies and non-profit organizations promoting North Carolina with support services for fire, rescue and military service members in the state.