“People show that they care when they support others who are in need,” said CES Cares Social Impact Manager Karen Gray. City Electric Supply (CES) is committed to inspiring positive change in local communities, which includes giving back to the people who serve our country.
CES Cares, the impact division of CES, participated in an initiative involving multiple branches across North Texas to help prepare special care packages to be sent to military soldiers overseas. CES Cares continues to collaborate with nonprofit organizations to support local communities through outreach and volunteer initiatives nationwide.
“We partnered with a local organization called Airborne Angel Cadets of Texas because the men and women who serve our country are very important to us,” said Gray. “We packed 100 care packages at CES corporate headquarters in Dallas, Texas, and we provided supplies for 19 of our branch teams in North Texas to pack another 200 care packages.”
Team members shared how they hoped to make an impact with the special care packages.
“I hope more branches are able to get involved with causes like this to show support for our troops,” added CES Frisco TX Branch Manager Brittney Baxter.
“It’s important to give back to this cause,” said CES Plano Branch Manager George Knowles. “Thank you for your service. We appreciate you guys immensely.”
It all started with a conversation
In October 2004, Nancy Carter, founder and president of Airborne Angel Cadets of Texas, was completing a shift on a charter flight carrying military personnel to and from war zones. The company she worked for was one of the major airlines that the U.S. government hired to transport troops.
“I met a young soldier who was reporting back to active duty after two weeks of spending time with his family,” said Carter. “He shared with me that he was 19 years old and was very nervous about returning to Iraq.”
At the time, Carter’s son, who was also the same age, was at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy preparing to go on active duty or the reserves.
“I come from a military family myself. My father was a military officer for 35 years, serving both on active duty and in civil service. I was raised on army bases in Japan where he was stationed,” added Carter. With Carter’s personal experience of military life, she wanted to provide a listening ear for the young, worried soldier.
“While talking to this young man, he shared that he had lost two battle buddies, and he was afraid that he wouldn’t come back alive,” Carter recalled. “In my attempt to provide comfort, I asked him what he missed from home and if his parents sent him any care packages, and he replied, ‘No.’”
According to the USAA Educational Foundation, based on a 2022 survey by the U.S. Department of Defense, one of the top five financial challenges active service members faced was unplanned financial support to a family member.
“He let me know that his family couldn’t afford to send him anything,” said Carter. “As a matter of fact, he had been sending his paycheck home to his parents, including his disabled dad, in order to support his two younger siblings.”
Nancy Carter teared up at the thought of such a burden being placed on a young person’s shoulders while preparing to put everything on the line for their country. The conversation stayed with Nancy and planted the seed for her to create a way to support those who serve.
Answering the call to support those who serve
After returning from her trip, Nancy got together with a group of moms from her son’s high school to tell them about her new idea.
“I approached the ladies and told them about the conversation I had with one of our brave soldiers,” said Carter. “We were already sending care packages to college students, so I asked them, ‘What do you think about changing direction?’ I will do the research, find out how we can adopt a platoon or a company, anything we can do to help.”
The group loved Nancy’s idea and decided to pivot to sending essentials, like lotion, soap, snacks, razors, toothpaste, and other everyday items to brighten the lives of soldiers and give them a little reminder of love and support from home.
During the research process, Nancy got in contact with a military veteran for more information on how to support troops. “He found out that I was a flight attendant, and he said, ‘Oh, you all are airborne angels!’ He assumed that all of us in the group were flight attendants like me, but that’s how we got our name,” Carter revealed.
Airborne Angel Cadets of Texas is an all-volunteer organization, and its mission is to let soldiers know that they are not forgotten. It is also called A.C.T. for short. “We often use this acronym because we act to serve our troops,” said Carter.
In January 2005, with only around 20 volunteers, Airborne Angel Cadets of Texas sent out their first care packages and never looked back.
Beginning with 35 soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan, Airborne Angels currently sends around 4,000 care packages to nearly 15,000 soldiers every year in hotspot regions where essentials are not easy to access, like the Middle East, Central and Eastern Europe, Africa, and Southwest Asia. “We typically spend $65,000 to $75,000 a year in postage, which is our biggest expense,” said Carter.
Airborne Angels officially became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 2008 and sends care packages seven times a year. Carter added, “No two packages are the same and carry different items based on the needs of the unit that we learn about from the questionnaires we send them.”
Everything from essential hygiene products, toiletries, snacks, microwavable meals, K-cups, heaters, air conditioners, power plugs, converters, adapters, blankets, socks, and curtains has been sent to troops overseas by the organization.
“Our packing parties usually have 480 men’s deodorants and 240 women’s deodorants that are donated to go out for shipping every six weeks. If we don’t receive what we need from donations, we have to purchase it,” explained Carter. “That’s why we love companies like CES that assist us with the goods. What they’ve done has just been so amazing and helpful.”
Airborne Angels also sends themed packages with decorations, items, and associated snacks to help soldiers celebrate holidays throughout the year. “We also do ‘Greetings from Texas’ packages,” said Carter. “It includes a candy-filled piñata, Texas swag from all the different colleges and pro teams, chips, salsa, jalapenos, and a Texas flag.”
The impact on soldiers has been abundant.
“We’ve heard from various chaplains, medical personnel, and mental health specialists that these care packages have actually saved lives,” said Carter. “What we do boosts morale so that they can do their jobs and not have to worry about where they’re going to get their next tube of toothpaste or if their families can afford to send them anything.”
CES Cares is dedicated to supporting the needs of active-duty soldiers by helping to provide them with the everyday essentials that remind them of home.
“I come from a place where you never leave a soldier behind,” said CES Farmers Branch Operations Manager Jonathan Harris. “I just want to tell our troops to keep up the great work. Be careful, stay safe, and come home.”