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

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

When Navy Federal’s hybrid staff comes together in person to execute service projects, they call them “moments that matter.” The atmosphere on Thursday was part festive, part friendly competition and, above all, a chance to make a difference.

They partnered with a nonprofit called Soldiers’ Angels to create no-sew blankets for veterans injured or displaced by Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

“You can’t help but be moved by that mission,” said Jordan Conti, the Navy’s federal director of external affairs. “So these no-sew blankets will be flown to VA hospitals to hopefully be a warm hug to these veterans who are really going through a tough time.”

Conti says that when employees heard 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 experienced Sally a few years ago.”

Each employee receives eight hours of paid volunteer work per year. They choose the projects that mean the most to them.

Amy Palmer, president and CEO of Soldiers’ Angels, says many of the veterans who will receive these blankets are alone in the world. The only traffic they get may be from nonprofits.

“When they get the finished product, it’s beautiful. We roll it up and put a ribbon and a special note on it,” she said. “We’ve had veterans buried with that blanket before, and we’ve seen veterans years later with that note on their bulletin board. Three years later, we even saw one of Navy Federal Credit Union’s notes on a bulletin board in another state. the event.”

They are simple gifts made with love. And for the employees of the Federal Navy, it was all a daily occurrence.

“It’s a piece of 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 hosts their largest overall event.

Click here for more information about Soldiers’ Angels, founded by the family of General George Patton.