In July 2004, Massachusetts high school student Mireille Manzone attended a high school leadership conference in Washington, D.C., where she heard a speech by Lt. Col Scott Rutter (retired from U.S. Army). He spoke of the many hardships that the military endure, and said that mail day is often the loneliest day of the week. Rutter's words spurred Mireille to action and inspired her to start Hugs for Heroes. While no one can compensate the troops for their service, sacrifice or courage, we want to assure them that their own community appreciates what they do.

Officially, Hugs for Heroes began with the name of one Marine who had recently returned from a tour in Iraq. He gave Mireille the names of two of his friends who would be returning to Iraq shortly. With these names, Mireille brought the idea to VFW Post 2498 in Needham, Mass., who responded with incredible enthusiasm, and have helped with the cost of postage on many occasions.

Mireille also gave presentations at her school to collect baked goods and items for a shipment. Two months later, Hugs for Heroes' first shipment, comprised of 80 pounds of baked goods and personal items, was sent to these two units in Iraq around Thanksgiving. This shipment was soon followed just a few weeks later by another shipment weighing hundreds of pounds, and addressed to four units.

Mireille designed and set up the Hugs for Heroes Web site to provide a way for others to keep informed about our programs and to offer ways to participate. She also designed promotional materials such as fliers, signs, bumper stickers, business cards, letterhead and labels. She set up a system to receive donations and sent personal letters of thanks to each and every generous donor.

To raise funds, Mireille solicited door to door, approached businesses, schools and churches, and held fund-raising events. She set up displays and drop-off points at these community gathering places, and personally collected items such as toiletries, CDs, magazines, puzzles and snacks. Her high school donated the packing materials used to send the items, and agreed to run her tax-deductible giving program through its business office. She also collected items from other area high schools. In November 2005, Natick VFW Post 1274 became involved, collecting items and providing funds to pay for postage for the huge shipments. Other groups, such as Foreign Motors West in Natick, Mass., the Boston Celtics, other veterans groups, the Natick Rotary Club and others gave donations.

In August 2006, Hugs for Heroes was officially incorporated as a not-for-profit, with the help of Anthony Marini and Robert Capobianco, who generously donated their time and services. We have shipped 3 tons of goods to almost 30 Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine units located throughout Iraq and Afghanistan. Mireille is now a freshman at Boston College in the honors program and is continuing and expanding her efforts on behalf of the troops.