Della Delights: A cookbook compiled by Citadel Moms

della-delights
Della Delights, a cookbook of recipes sent in by Citadel moms. Contact Amy Bulger with questions, [email protected]

Last Spring a group of Citadel moms decided it would be fun to put together a cookbook and sell it to benefit one of the ring funds through The Citadel Foundation. The result of this volunteer effort is the “Della Delights” cookbook.

There are less than 100 cookbooks left to sell. Once they are sold and the final accounting is done a check will be donated through the foundation to one of the funds that provides assistance in getting a ring. Amy Bulger, an India Company, ’16 mom is handling the sales. She posted the following to Facebook:

“We have only 100 Della Delight cookbooks left to sell!
My guarantee to you is to have them turned around within 24 hrs of payment received.

The following liquidation specials remain in effect until all books are gone.
1 cookbook: $15
3 cookbooks: $40
5 cookbooks: $50
Shipping 1-5 books $6.80

I will be on Campus inside the front of the bookstore from 9AM-4PM (or until all books are gone) Jan 13, 2017.

Just a little background if this is your first time reading about the cookbook.
It was the brainchild of a number of Citadel moms who wanted to raise money for the Ring Fund, a foundation that helps Seniors, who could not otherwise afford it, the ability to wear “The Ring”

All profits from the sales will be donated anonymously, per the Funds request.

You can send payment to Amy Bulger via PayPal at [email protected]
Or checks can be sent directly to Amy at:

8250 Persia Way
Nashville TN 37211

My phone number is 803.412.8550 if you have any questions.
Mom and Della of Cadet Of India 2016

Let’s get these cookbooks sold and the funds donated!”

A Small World – The Citadel Edition

I am an outgoing person and try to stay in touch with the friends I make so it isn’t surprising that I will run into acquaintances as our family travels. Since my son graduated from The Citadel I now find the connections I made through his time at the school adds an additional layer to these small world meetings. A chance meeting this past weekend brought this to mind.

A little background. . . .  During my son’s deployment a friend in my church, who is a graduate of The Citadel, sent an email of introduction to his former classmate, a 1972 graduate. This gentleman has been a tremendous source of support and encouragement to me while my son was deployed. He keeps track of the graduates, cadets and some parents of cadets who are in Afghanistan serving our country.

On occasion I will ask my contact for names of deployed soldiers who would like a care package. My contact then sends a note to his list asking for the soldiers to respond to me with their requests.

In response to one of these emails I received a surprise note from a Captain asking for something I never thought about. He asked for American flags. He and his Apache crew fly the flags then send them to people as a thank you for their support. He and his crew were buying them out of their own pockets. He asked if we could find people who would send them a dozen. Together with another Citadel mom we quickly asked the moms of Citadel Cadets to contact us if they would like to contribute to the cause. Within a day or so we had enough money to purchase more than the amount requested. After calling a few flag makers I found one who gave us a good discount which enabled us to factor the postage in as well.

When I saw the Captain’s name I knew it sounded familiar. Sure enough, he is the same Timothy Devine who is from our home town, who graduated from the same high school as my son, then went on to The Citadel and his senior year, Class of 2007,  was the Regimental Commander. I had heard his mother worked for a local school, so I called her.

As both an Army mom and the mom of a Citadel graduate I would want to know if someone reached out to my son, so I called Captain Devine’s mom, Karen, to tell her about the flags. We talked and shared some emotional deployment stories. It was nice to know that there was another mom near by who I share quite a bit with even though we had never met.

This certificate accompanied a flag flown in Afghanistan.
This certificate accompanied a flag flown in Afghanistan.

Last week a box arrived in the mail from deployed the Captain! He sent a nice certificate and one of the 3′ x 5′ flags that had flown aboard an AH – 64D Apache Helicopter over the provinces of Afghanistan on a combat mission in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. I had offered to send the flags to a few individuals for the Captain. He included a flag for me, one for my friend, Sarah Lancaster. I was able to deliver one directly to a Citadel mom who is a teacher. Her class sent drawings and notes to soldiers. I asked the recipients to take a photos with their flag so Captain Devine would see them.

With the flags off to their recipients I thought the chapter on flags was shut. Until I went to the garden nursery this weekend.

As I walked to my car another vehicle pulled in. On the back of the car was a Blue Star sticker and a sticker for The Citadel. When the driver got out I asked if he is a graduate. Just as I gave my name his wife came around the car and said, “I am Karen Devine!” What a wonderful surprise.

We hugged and, of course, I asked if we could get a photo taken of the two of us. We both happened to be wearing Citadel blue too!

Karen Devine and Dorie stand by the back of the Devine's car for a photo.
Karen Devine and Dorie stand by the back of the Devine’s car for a photo.

 

Karen and I arranged to meet again at her school so I could show her the certificate and flag her son, CPT Timothy Devine sent to me.
Karen and I arranged to meet again at her school so I could show her the certificate and flag her son, CPT Timothy Devine, sent to me.

 

A Citadel Mom in NY – UPDATE

Last week I wrote about a project a group of Citadel Moms has taken on. Here is an update. . .

Bonnie Ashley has received over 30 boxes this week of clothing and other donations for children of her school district and the areas surrounding the district. Some of their families lost everything. The call went out on Facebook and through this blog and The Citadel family went into action.

The latest word from Bonnie is that gifts of Home Depot gift cards are now needed. They will be used by families who are entering the long recovery process. If you’d like to send donations of Home Depot gift cards, please send them to:

Bonnie Ashley
2629 Ricky Street
Bellmore, NY 11710

Bonnie’s son, Jordan is a senior in Charlie Company at The Citadel, is spearheading an effort to raise funds on campus for the recovery effort. The money raised will go toward providing Home Depot gift cards to families in Breezy Point who are rebuilding. You can make donations through the PayPal account: [email protected]

In the midst of her efforts to aid the victims of super storm Sandy, Bonnie has reached out to me by baking cookies for my Citadel grad son who recently deployed to the Middle East.

Citadel Moms are amazing!