Navy Federal employees in Pensacola make heartfelt gifts for hurricane-affected veterans

On By Littum

PENSACOLA, Fla. — Veterans affected by recent hurricanes will receive some heartfelt gifts, made right here in Pensacola.

At Navy Federal Credit Union on Thursday, 450 employees dedicated a work day to those who serve.

When Navy Federal hybrid personnel meet in person to complete service projects, they call them “moments that matter.” Thursday’s atmosphere was part celebration, part friendly competition, and most of all a chance to make a difference.

They teamed up with a nonprofit called Soldiers’ Angels to make no-sew blankets for veterans injured or displaced by Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

“You just can’t help but be moved by that mission,” said Jordan Conti, federal director of external affairs. “So these non-sewn blankets will be flown to VA hospitals to hopefully be a warm hug for these veterans who are really going through a tough time.”

Conti says that when employees found out about this project, there was a waiting list to work on it.

“It’s very personal and it’s very personal to this area,” she said. “Many of our team members went through Sally just a few years ago.”

Each employee receives eight hours of paid volunteer service per year. They choose the projects that mean the most to them.

Soldiers’ Angels President and CEO Amy Palmer says many of the veterans who will receive these blankets are alone in the world. The only visitors they get may be from nonprofits.

“When they get the finished product, it’s beautiful. We roll it up and put a ribbon and a special note on it,” she said. “We’ve actually had veterans buried with that blanket before, and we’ve seen veterans years later with that note on their bulletin board. We actually saw one of the Navy Federal Credit Union notes on a bulletin board in another state three years after that. the event.”

These are simple gifts made with love. And for the employees of Navy Federal, it was all in a day’s work.

“It’s a little taste of home they didn’t have, and it warms their hearts,” Palmer said.

She added that Navy Federal Credit Union has been a partner for several years and is doing their largest frame event.

To find out more about Soldiers’ Angels, which was founded by the family of General George Patton, click here.