The free Welcome Home sign program was recently featured on the local news stations:

High demand for ‘welcome home’ signs: kxan.com

Find some jewelry you love, and when you check out, be sure to add a note to your payment that says, “Military Moms of Texas” and Marianne will donate 25% back to MMOT.

Beginners to experts get excited about cooking with incredibly flavorful Gulf Coast recipes.

ORDER HERE! Down Home Delicious, by Peggy Touchtone Sholly (2007, Hardcover)

Military Moms of Tx Helps Families in Need: MyFoxAUSTIN.com

Operation Green Santa brightens season, Kids not forgotten at Camp Mabry, KXAN

2nd Green Santa helps military families, KVUE

Operation Green Santa a Big Success, Lisa Birkman, Williamson County Conservative Examiner

 Operation Green Santa, 12.11.11, Austin American Statesman

Austin Motorcycle Riders Group, Green Santa Toy Run, Photo Gallery

Austin, TX – December 5, 2011 – Military Moms of Texas (http://militarymomsoftexas.org) a non-profit organization that supports U.S. military personnel at home and during deployment, as well as their families, is holding its second annual Operation Green Santa on Saturday, DECEMBER 11TH, from 12 PM to 3 PM at Camp Mabry, our local Austin military base at West 35^th Street, in Central Austin.

According to Tracy LaPorte, founder of Military Moms of Texas, “The purpose of Operation Green Santa is to raise toys and funds for local military families in need during the holidays.” Military Moms of Texas ships holiday packages and Christmas trees bound for local military personnel serving overseas away from their families during the holidays. “The focus of Operation Green Santa is to provide toys by holding a large toy run to Camp Mabry held in conjunction with many area motorcycle groups. When funds allow we also adopt as many families as possible who have signed up and are in need this holiday season,” says LaPorte. The holiday season for families of deployed service members can be a difficult one. Military Moms of Texas supports these local families in a variety of ways to provide some holiday cheer. “Operation Green Santa is an opportunity to provide the local Austin community with a family event to remember the sacrifices our services members and their families make for our freedom,” says Angela Roberts, President of Military Moms of Texas. Military Moms of Texas still has families in need of full holiday adoption that can include gifts, Christmas tree, and holiday meal.

This is the second Operation Green Santa organized by Military Moms of Texas. LaPorte notes that, “Many of the troops serving overseas or stationed locally appreciate the comfort of knowing that their families are taken care of, especially during the holidays.”

LaPorte, whose son, had a year-long deployment in Iraq, says she hopes Operation Green Santa will attract all families from around Central Texas interested in having a fun time while also giving back. “We have a full event and appreciation day lined up. A special thank you to AMRG’S Mark and Kati Spears, Austin Police Department, and Cowboy Harley who will lead a procession of motorcycles to kick off the event. They will be departing from Cowboy Harley in South Austin at 11AM and arrive at Camp Mabry by noon. The event will be fun for the whole family including food provided by Emo’s Riverside, music, a tree for adopting families and donation stars, pictures with Santa, and kids can help make Christmas cards that will be sent to troops stationed all over the world. To participate in the event, bring your driver’s license to enter Camp Mabry along with two unwrapped toys.

Military Moms Of Texas will honor a special representative as they do each year with a book engraved and then placed in the Round Rock library, Councilman Tony Dale will be delivering an introduction. Sponsors of Operation Green Santa include ArmedZilla, Cowboy Harley, Fitness In Motion, Emo’s, The Mary Dale Law Firm, Texas Association Of Vietnam Veterans, Mr. Randolph Clawson from AT&T Veterans, Covert Cadillac, The Mary Dale Law Firm, Great American Storage, Dave Manzer – Creative Relations, Hill Country Bible Church AMRG, SAAME, JC TRAINS, Fabulous Working Ladies, and many more contributions. Please See militarymomsoftexas.org for more information on toy drop locations, volunteering, and more.

About Military Moms of Texas

Military Moms of Texas is a non-profit organization committed to supporting our troops at home and abroad. MMOT has no political or religious affiliation, so our membership is all encompassing supports all branches of the military. MMOT provides a variety of programs including: Operation Green Santa, Deployed Night Out, and Veteran’s Mentorship. To learn more about how to donate, become a member, or volunteer, please visit our website: http://www.militarymomsoftexas.org.

Operation Green Santa is our annual toy drive and fund raising event to provide assistance and gifts for our  local military families. All gifts and funds raised stays right here in our community. Come show your support and appreciation for our service members by giving their families a holiday to remember.

Join us for the 2011 Operation Green Santa at Camp Mabry from 12-3pm on December 11th. Bring a new unwrapped gift which will be distributed to the children of our service members. Be sure to bring your driver’s license, as this is required to enter Camp Mabry.

Operation Green Santa Ride

To participate in the ride, please provide two toys to donate. Toys will be carried to Mabry in a truck behind the riders. Mabry will distribute the toys to their families after the event. First 100 participants bringing 2 toys will receive an Operation Green Santa ornament.

Timeline

Cowboy Harley Ride to Camp Mabry (approximately 200 riders) – 11am

Green Santa Military Appreciation Day at Camp Mabry – 12-3pm

If you can’t attend the event, you can still help!

Drop off your new toys by December 11 at one of our drop locations around town, including:

• Fitness in Motion 10900 Research Blvd. Suite 200B (North Austin)
• Fitness HQ 10001 Research Blvd. Suite 100 (North Austin)
• The Mary Dale Law Firm 1001 Cypress Creek Road Suite 106 (Cedar Park)
• Brushy Creek Recreation Center 16318 S Great Oaks Dr (Round Rock)
• Cowboy Harley-Davidson 10917 S IH 35 (South Austin)
• Covert Cadillac 11750 Research Blvd (North Austin)
• Falcon Pointe Communities 19015 Falcon Pointe Blvd (Pflugerville)
• Emo’s 2015 E Riverside Dr (downtown Austin)
• Great American Storage 16450 North FM 620, 512-248-1518 (Round Rock)

For question and media relations, please contact:

Mark Spears at idonotquit@gmail.com

Tracy La Porte and Kati Spears at  512-470-3485 or tracylaporte@gmail.com