First Lady Trump and Second Lady Pence assemble Red Cross Care Kits

By Mona Austin

The First and Second Lady of the United States and cabinet members' spouses joined Red Cross volunteers on Tuesday to assemble "care bags" for deserving American families. These bags contained toiletries, games, food items and a personal card from the two of them. In her remarks Mrs. Trump was mindful of the three American soldiers who were killed in Afghanistan on Tuesday.

Bonnie McElveen-Hunter, Chairman, American Red Cross,  called  of Mrs. Trump a woman who  “ has used wealth to find wisdom, used success to find service,” describing her a First Lady who “has her priorities straight.” 

This is the second year Mrs. Trump and Mrs. Pence participated in the event. The wives of the nations' leaders spent approximately an hour working to bring comfort and cheer to military personnel serving abroad, with the loss of soldiers freshly on their minds.

Before they began, First Lady Trump acknowledged the deaths of three American soldiers who the Taliban killed in a bombing saying the losses "only drives home the need to support the men and women in our military and their families. We lift up the families affected by this terrible loss." Pres. Donald Trump is contemplating his first visit to troops in a war zone following criticism.

The "comfort kits" will be sent to troops in Romania, Poland, Djibouti, Iraq and Kuwait will be the recipients of today’s comfort kits, according to a Red Cross press liaison. While the Red Cross does comfort kits all year long, however, these are specially designated for the holidays.

A card signed by First Lady Melania Trump and Second Lady Karen Pence will be included in the care kits.

Continuing First Lady Trump to acknowledged the military families that are serving way from their families during the holiday season:

"While most Americans are able to enjoy Thanksgiving and Christmas with their families, we have thousands of American troops deployed overseas and separated from their loved ones .It is important as Americans to do all we can to support our troops and their families."

"I encourage people everywhere to participate in an act of service this holiday season and give back to our military, who protect our nation’s freedoms. One of the greatest privileges I have as First Lady, is traveling across our great nation and around the world, meeting troops and their families.

"A few weeks ago, Karen and I traveled to Charleston, South Carolina where the Red Cross was educating children on how to prepare for natural disasters. We also visited Joint Base Charleston to speak with troops and their families and thank them for their service."

"Today, I ask that you leave here knowing you will always have the support and respect of my husband and me, especially during the holiday season. We are here for you, we are praying for you, and we appreciate you."

The American Red Cross said that to date in 2019 they helped military families by distributing more than 653,000 care, comfort and therapy items at military hospitals and medical facilities.