Have you heard about The "Hugs" Project? It's a great group of more than 900 people world-wide who are dedicated to sewing and sending evaporative cooling ties to our troops in the "sandbox". They have already sent out over 70,000 homemade "hugs", which sounds like a lot until you consider that the U.S. has over 165,000 military people in the desert right now and many more American civilians. Yes, they take care of our civilians too whenever possible. Cooling ties are simple to make but the benefits are dramatic. "Hugs" can lower body temperature by 1 to 4 degrees.

They need more people making and sending out "hugs" to our troops. Right now they're working to outfit military members who are in the midst of the Sunni Triangle and needing a morale booster in the worst way. If you think you might be interested in learning more about how you can help, please send an email to: thehugsproject@cox.net and you'll be sent all the information. Each person is funding their own efforts, buying their own material and postage. These hugs cost less than $1 each to construct and mail and there is nothing that someone could buy and send to the military people in the Middle East that they would appreciate more as temperatures in the "sandbox" climb to more than 130 degrees. They also send care packages that can contain whatever you think they might like to receive (ask for a list of suggestions).

Maybe you have a loved one serving in the desert but even if not, please consider if it were your son or daughter "over there", your husband or wife. How good would you feel if a group of patriotic strangers wanted to give them a "hug" and say, "we appreciate your service to your country"?

Thank you for taking time to read this message. Would you consider joining The "Hugs" Project in time to get our military some relief from the killer heat thatÂs coming this summer? ItÂs already over 100 degrees in Iraq and itÂs only April.

Materials needed include desert colored 100% cotton fabric, polymer crystals, sewing machine, thread and a kind heart for our American military members. If someone has all these things, they can help make a difference in the lives of some of AmericaÂs finest young men and women serving in harmÂs way. And, you don't have to sew in order to help, you can send out care packages or donate money for shipping. They send you a list of needed items and other info to make it easy. Thank you.

TheHugsProject.comÂBecause every American service member deserves a "hug".