HTA member helps send goods to troops

HTA first got involved with the effort in 2011, when Jablonski discovered the Adopt-a-Unit program and reached out to officials within the organization.

“When I found out about it, I tried to contact the HTA and ask them if there was anyone locally that was organizing it because if there was, I would love to work with them on it,” Jablonski said. “And if there wasn’t someone, I wanted to volunteer to do it.”

Ultimately, that is exactly what Jablonski did, and HTA adopted its first overseas military unit, shipping 31 boxes of supplies to troops in Afghanistan. When they took the boxes to the post office, many customers there were so supportive of the project that they donated money to help cover shipping costs.

Over the past year, Jablonski has become even more involved with HTA, obtaining a position as a board member with the group.

“We were going into a board meeting, and I contacted the president and said, you know, it’s been more than a year, and I think it’s time for us to do it again,” Jablonski said. “That’s when we decided it was time for us to participate in the program again.”

This time around, HTA adopted two units, which allowed the group to provide supplies to somewhere between 75 and 100 soldiers, doubling the amount of goods they collected in 2011. HTA held a packing party on Nov. 3 to get the supplies ready to be shipped.

“It’s amazing that these people are over in Afghanistan fighting for our country, and they’re thanking us for packing up some boxes to send over to them,” Jablonski said.

In addition to these items, the United States Tennis Association also follows up by sending portable tennis gear to the troops.

Although Jablonski does not personally know anyone currently serving overseas, she was extremely happy and grateful to spearhead the project.

“People always ask me that and question and assume that I have family and friends overseas,” Jablonski said. “I don’t. I’m just a very big supporter of our military and the things that they do for us. It was just a way to tie together what they do with tennis, which is something I do. It just seemed like a good fit.”

About Jodi Jablonski
Age: 36
Occupation: Law firm employee/HTA board member
Community Connection: Lives in Sugar Land
Fast Fact: Attended college on tennis scholarship

Chris Marshall is a freelance writer. He can be reached at neighborhoods@chron.com.