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Don’t think you can make a difference in the lives
of U.S. troops serving abroad? Marie Lane of North Arlington has proven
you can.
As an Avon representative, Lane raised money for the company’s “Touch of
Home” campaign, and recently surpassed her fund-raising goal of $500.
The money raised through the campaign is used to send Avon gift sets to
the troops. A $10 donation buys one gift set, which includes deodorant,
sunscreen and other toiletries. Lane’s fund-raising work has provided
gift sets for more than 50 men and women of the U.S. Armed Services.
“My original goal was to raise maybe $200,” Lane said in a recent
interview. “But then I said, ‘No, I’m going to try harder!’”
In addition to the gift sets, $4 of the $10 donations go to the United
Service Organization to provide emergency-relief programs,
family-assistance activities, entertainment tours and more.
The campaign is close to Lane’s heart because her father-in-law was a
U.S. Marine. It took about a year for her to reach her $500 goal, and
she raised most of the money over the telephone, at Clarendon United
Methodist and at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church. The retired
librarian was pleased with the response she got towards the campaign.
“There was a pouring out of people I met,” she said.
Although “Touch of Home” was Lane’s major charitable fund-raising
project for the past year, she gives money regularly to other charities
and her church.
Now that she’s reached her goal for this campaign, Lane is looking to
raise money for another one in the near future. One possible project is
to bring gift kits to hospitalized veterans at Walter Reed Army Medical
Center.
“It’s good to get outside yourself,” Lane said. “The more you give, the
more you get.” |
Marie Lane has participated in Avon's “Touch of Home”
campaign, which helps to support U.S. troops serving overseas. |
