Colleen Rioux, left, of HRH’s Auburn Bond Department, stands with Sharon Diemer of HRH’s Portland Employee Benefits Department with the items they have collected to send to Maine service men and women.

HRH employees support the troops

AUBURN – In the spirit of giving and thanking those who sacrifice for the country, HRH’s Northern New England Division is working with the Maine Army National Guard to provide supplies to overseas troops.

With the help of volunteers at each HRH branch, Colleen Rioux of the Auburn Bond Department coordinated “Project: Support Our Troops.”

HRH adopted the Maine Army National Guard Military Police Unit to benefit from the project. The Auburn, Portland and Bangor offices coordinated efforts to send 10 boxes to Lt. Mitch Bailey of the Maine National Guard MP Unit.

Packages contained toys, stuffed animals and candy for military police to distribute to Iraqi children.

Servicemen and women received care packages that consisted of coffee, popcorn, cookies, candy canes, mini-flashlights, emery boards, sunglasses, lip balm, pens and other day-to-day necessities.

A box was also sent to employee Marilyn Leighton’s step-son, Marine Corporal Aaron Leighton.

HRH’s New Gloucester office put together a large package of snacks, energy bars, holiday chocolate bark candy, popcorn, stuffed animals, matchbox cars and markers for First Sergeant Ron McGraw, brother of HRH employee Diane Dubuc.

Manchester, N.H., provided essentials to Phil Gagne, part of the Marines’ Inshore Boat Unit. HRH paid shipping expenses.

Dennis Lundgren, president of HRH’s Northern New England Division, said he continues to be amazed, yet not surprised, by the efforts of HRH employees.

He said, “We are proud of HRH’s long history of giving back to our local communities and are humbled by the effort of individuals within our organization who become personally involved.

We are honored to have employees such as Colleen Rioux who spearheaded our ‘Project: Support Our Troops’ program. Our employees have collected a total of 13 full boxes of materials to be shipped overseas to help support our men and women in the armed forces.”