Evans, GA – October 13, 2020 --- Founder Burt Sappenfield today announced that OPERATION HAND-WARMER 2020 has been canceled, primarily because of continuing access restrictions to Department of Defense military installations. “Late Monday afternoon I received a message from my military contact that, due to COVID-19, the restricted access to the base is still in force. I hoped that restrictions would be eased this fall, but they have not. This means that I do not have a way to deliver the collected items to the troops this year (2020)”, explains Mr. Sappenfield, owner of Majestic Floor Care in Augusta and Savannah. “Also, due to the drop in troop deployments this year, there is a drop in demand---so there is no need for mailing of the APO boxes through the USPO. Hopefully, next year we will have access to the military bases and can continue with the Operation Hand-Warmer Program. 2020 has been a very different and trying year but we all can look forward to a fresh start in 2021 and continue with our program as normal.”
Operation Hand-Warmer has been sponsored and promoted by CENTURY 21 Larry Miller Realty and the CSRA HOME CONNECTIONS Program since its inception in late 2011. “We are collectively disappointed by this unexpected turn of events,” said Larry Miller. “Our Premier Providers, agents, staff, and supporters have come to eagerly anticipate helping Operation Hand-Warmer provide supplemental support for our men and women in uniform every fall. Like Burt Sappenfield, we look forward to resuming this worthwhile event next year.” Donation records were broken last year with the powerful and much appreciated assistance of Operation Hand-Warmer media partners FOX 54 television, iHeartMEDIA radio, and the Augusta Chronicle.
Via CSRA HOME CONNECTIONS®