SAN ANTONIO ­ Residents of Blanco are being invited to take part in a program being sponsored by the local Hermann Sons lodge and the Grand Lodge in San Antonio.

The program is called “Hugs from Home” and it was created for a very special group of people ­ the men and women of the armed forces who are serving their country in Iraq and Afghanistan. These “Hugs from Home” will be care packages filled with items that the troops have requested including foot powder, baby wipes, other personal hygiene items and non-perishable food such as cookies, crackers, tuna, jerky and candy.

Twin Sisters Hermann Sons Lodge No. 138 is asking residents to help by donating money that the Grand Lodge can use to buy the items needed to fill the boxes.

Residents can also take part in the program by providing the name, address and deployment dates of someone serving in Iraq or Afghanistan. These are the people who will be receiving these “Hugs from Home.”

“As long as we receive items and donations, this project will continue,” Grand Vice President-Fraternal Lee Vogel said in announcing the program. “We anticipate this will be the largest community service project ever undertaken by Hermann Sons.”

Hermann Sons is a fraternal benefit society. It provides its members with life insurance and annuity products to protect their financial future. Members belong to 138 lodges across Texas and have access to a wide range of living benefits including a retirement home, youth camp, dance program and the opportunity for community service through projects such as this.

“Hermann Sons members are known for their patriotism and I am proud to say that they have always risen to the occasion when there is a need,” Vogel said. “But we know that there are many, many other people who support the troops and would like the opportunity to let them know we are thinking about them and want them to have everything they need and that is why we have opened this program up to residents in each of the communities where we have a lodge.”

Donations can be sent to Hermann Sons Grand Lodge, Attn: Kim Krueger, P.O. Box 1941, San Antonio, Texas, 78297-1941. Checks should be made payable to the Hermann Sons Grand Lodge. The names, complete addresses and deployment dates of personnel serving in Iraq and Afghanistan can also be sent to the same address.

For more information, contact Krueger at 1-800-234-4124, ext. 277.