Navy Federal personnel in Pensacola create heartfelt gifts for hurricane-affected veterans

PENSACOLA, Fla. – Veterans affected by recent hurricanes will receive gifts from the heart made right here in Pensacola.

At Navy Federal Credit Union on Thursday, 450 employees dedicated a workday to those who serve.

When Navy Federal's hybrid employees come together in person to complete service projects, they call them “moments that matter.” Thursday's atmosphere was part celebration, part friendly competition and, above all, a chance to make a difference.

They partnered with a nonprofit called Soldiers' Angels to create seamless blankets for veterans injured or displaced by Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

“You just can’t help but be touched by this mission,” said Jordan Conti, Navy federal external affairs manager. “So these seamless blankets are being flown to VA hospitals to hopefully be a warm hug for these veterans who are really going through a tough time.”

Conti says when staff found out about this project, there was a waiting list to work on it.

“It’s very personal and it’s very personal to this area,” she said. “Many of our team members only started using Sally a few years ago.”

Each employee performs eight hours of paid volunteer service annually. They choose the projects that mean the most to them.

Amy Palmer, president and CEO of Soldiers' Angels, says many of the veterans who receive these blankets are alone in the world. The only visitors they get may be from nonprofit organizations.

“When they receive the finished product, it’s beautiful. We roll it up and attach a ribbon and a special note to it,” she said. “We've actually had veterans buried with this blanket before, and we've seen veterans years later who had this note on their bulletin board. Three years later, we actually saw one of the Navy Federal Credit Union notices posted on a bulletin board in another state “the event.”

They are simple gifts made with love. And for Navy Federal employees, it was all in a day's work.

“It's a little taste of the home they didn't have and it warms their hearts,” Palmer said.

She added that Navy Federal Credit Union has been a partner for several years and is hosting its largest package event.

To learn more about Soldiers' Angels, founded by General George Patton's family, click here.