Inns Across the Nation Team Up to Bake and Mail Goods to U.S. Service Members Overseas for Military Appreciation Month

During the month of May, inns across the U.S. are coming together to offer sweet comfort with homemade baked goods in a show of gratitude and appreciation to troops deployed overseas

Asheville, North Carolina (May 5, 2021)— Cookies, brownies, socks, books and toiletries will be in the mail to U.S. service members deployed overseas by the end of May, courtesy of several innkeepers across the country. The special military care packages are part of the annual “Inn Support of Our Troops” initiative. Innkeepers across the nation came together virtually during the pandemic in 2020 to show love and support to our service members.

“Our goal is to continue this initiative on an annual basis. It is an honor to bake and mail goods to our service members,” said Karen Wilson, who co-owns The Lion & the Rose Bed & Breakfast in Asheville, North Carolina, with her husband, Steve. “Both of our Dads are veterans. We have a deep respect for all service members and want to let them know how much we appreciate their service and all they do for our country. This was our inspiration for joining Angel Bakers and creating Inn Support of our Troops with Soldiers' Angels.”

Soldiers’ Angels is a national charity providing aid, comfort, and resources to the military, veterans, and their families. The inns have registered independently to participate as Angel Bakers, where they may access a database with the first name and state of each service member that has expressed interest in receiving baked goods. Most inns are choosing to send a care package to someone from their home state. Angel Bakers nationwide has sent 1,902 care packages between January and April 2021. Last year, 3,534 packages were shipped overseas. The organization holds the highest level of recognition from the world’s largest source of nonprofit information, the Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar.

“It’s truly inspiring to see these Inns return for a second year to share their support for deployed service members,” said Amy Palmer, President and CEO of Soldiers’ Angels. “2020 was such a difficult year for small businesses. Their commitment to return in 2021 shows their heart and dedication for the military community.”

The participating inns have been through a rough year, suffering unprecedented financial hardships from the pandemic and the anxiousness over the loss of their home – since many owners live on the premises. Baking sweets and mailing goods has provided a much-needed outlet to bring innkeepers together to help keep positive and give back to our military. “We feel very fortunate to have business picking up but we wanted to continue this initiative to honor and thank our service members," said Steve Wilson, a craft beer hobbyist who is baking Spent Grain Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies to incorporate his pastime and in a nod toward his inn’s hometown of Asheville, aka Beer City USA.

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About Soldiers’ Angels: Soldiers' Angels is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides aid, comfort, and resources to the military, veterans, and their families. Founded in 2003 by the mother of two American soldiers, the organization now has a global network of volunteers — representing all 50 states and over a dozen countries abroad — work tirelessly to ensure that those who serve or have served are supported, uplifted, and remembered through a variety of support programs.(Tax ID# 20-0583415). Learn more at www.soldiersangels.org.