G3, Day of Giving, Christmas Lights ETC

Piney Grove Middle School Students Pack Cookies for Troops, Make Jewelry for Africa, in “G3” Event at Christmas Lights, Etc

Piney Grove Middle School students boxed up over 6,000 cookies to ship to U.S. troops overseas at the annual Treat the Troops cookie pack held at the headquarters of Christmas Lights, Etc in conjunction with Piney Grove’s “Grizzly Great Day of Giving,” or G3. Students also prepared beads to be turned into jewelry and sold in support of Just One Africa.

Each year Alpharetta-based online retailer Christmas Lights, Etc opens up its 100,000-square-foot headquarters and distribution facility to students and parent volunteers participating in Piney Grove’s G3, an annual event in which students fan out into the community to perform acts of service.

Since 2013, this has involved Treat the Troops, a nonprofit dedicated to packing and shipping cookies, treats, cards and letters to U.S. troops stationed outside the country. The “Southern Style” (Georgia) chapter of Treat the Troops, headquartered in Cumming, Ga., is the third largest chapter in the United States.

This year for the first time the event also featured students cleaning and preparing beads made from recycled paper, purchased from Maasai women in Kenya, that will be made into jewelry and sold to raise funds for Just One Africa. Headquartered in Alpharetta, Just One Africa is a nonprofit devoted to providing care for orphans and vulnerable children in Kenya. It was co-founded by the parents of a former Piney Grove student.

“We’re so appreciative of Christmas Lights, Etc opening up their facilities to give our students the opportunity to get involved in the work of these wonderful organizations,” said Pam Pajerski, Principal of Piney Grove. “This is such an important lesson for our students to learn: that even one person can make a positive difference in the world, and many people working together can make a big difference.”

Christmas Lights, Etc plans to continue its support of Piney Grove’s Grizzly Great Day of Giving and encourages other local businesses to get involved both with G3 and with Treat the Troops and Just One Africa.

“These organizations do invaluable work in making the lives of people around the world better,” said Chris Miller, Co-Owner of Christmas Lights, Etc. “Whether it’s our troops protecting lives in faraway countries, or vulnerable children in Kenya, the needs are great. We are proud to join with Piney Grove Middle School in supporting the organizations that help meet those needs.”

About Treat The Troops

Treat The Troops (http://www.treatthetroops.org) is a non-profit organization dedicated to letting deployed American military personnel know that people at home are remembering them. Treat the Troops sends home-baked cookies and other comfort items, along with a note of thanks, to the troops via the U.S. Postal Service.

About Just One Africa

Just One Africa (http://justoneafrica.org) is a non-profit organization dedicated to caring for orphans and vulnerable children in Kenya by providing access to clean water and by partnering with local leaders to provide sustainable solutions which create hope through care, education, and community development.

About Christmas Lights, Etc

Christmas Lights, Etc (https://www.christmaslightsetc.com) is the most shopped online Christmas lights store in America. Founded in 2000, Christmas Lights, Etc features thousands of quality lights, trees, greenery and decor. Christmas Lights, Etc is a three-time INC. 5000 company, an ENERGY STAR partner, and a supplier of residential and commercial Christmas lighting, Christmas decor and Christmas trees.