Through Purple Heart Family Support™, volunteers from MarineParents.com held their second west coast dinner for wounded warriors on Monday, January 26, 2009.

The crew of volunteers planned meals for 100 military men and women. Actual attendance was 160 personnel.

Purple Heart Family Support™ has been serving meals to family members at Bethesda Naval Hospital for two years, and will now be doing the west coast on a monthly basis.

Joyce Orrell, volunteer and manager of the monthly meal program was once again thrilled with the success of the dinner and how well the volunteers are received by the men and women.

"Our volunteers are wonderful" said Orrell. "It is awesome to see all the love and caring shared. Many of the Marines stayed the whole evening!"

Cocina Del Charro in Escondido prepared the meals at cost for the wounded warriors. MarineParents.com paid for the meals and donated four new chafing dishes to the Liberty Center earlier this month to be used for the ongoing dinners as well as for other organizations to use for catering meals at the center.

Fat Ivors in Valley Center provided hot boxes for the meal. "These organizations have really gone above and beyond supporting our troops!" said Mrs. Orrell.

Posters announcing the dinner are put up around the facility for the military personnel. Volunteers make sure all the branches of the service are notified about the event.

Mrs. Orrell, a Marine Mother and volunteer for MarineParents.com began planning for the dinners at the end of last year. The plan is to have a dinner at the barracks once each month. They are hoping to encourage folks to bring board games for future meals.

The next event will be a joint effort with several organizations to provide food and snacks for the super bowl party this February 1.