Jeannine Beasley collects pillow cases. At first, collecting pillow cases seems like an odd hobby, but for Jeannine, it’s a calling to help others.
Last Christmas, Jeannine, who is an employee at Glass Doctor of Central Carolina located in Dunn, N.C., asked fellow church member and U.S. service member Rhonda Henderson, who was serving in Kuwait, what she could send to help troops.
Henderson told her pillow cases. The hospitals in Kuwait are stocked with sheets and blankets, but no pillow cases for wounded soldiers.
So Jeannine started Operation Pillow Talk, a community effort to collect pillow cases with inspirational bible verses and quotes written by children and adults on them for wounded U.S. soldiers.
“If I had my head on a pillow case with all these uplifting words from communities back home, I’d feel inspired,” Beasley said.
It started as an effort within her own church, but Beasley took it to her boss, Glass Doctor franchise owner and veteran Jim Johnson, who encouraged her to bring pillowcases to customers and use the shop as a drop-off point.
“Jeannine told me about the pillow case project, and I thought it was such a great idea that I offered to pay shipping on the pillow cases collected at our office,” Johnson said.
As Beasley continued her efforts, local businesses began offering to serve as drop-off points, as well as pay for shipping the items collected at their business. She’s even been asked to speak at local churches and schools about the collection.
“When you see the pictures and notes children write, it makes you smile, and you know it’ll make the soldiers smile too,” Beasley said.
One of the best parts, she says, is that it’s a cost-efficient way to help soldiers, with pillow case two-packs being sold for less than five dollars.
“It’s a small price with a big impact,” she said.
Anyone interested in donating pillow cases can contact Jeannine at (910) 892-0441. If you’re in the Dunn, N.C. area, you can drop your pillowcase off at the shop, located at 1209 North Ellis Avenue. If you would like to donate, but aren’t in the area, there are still opportunities to give.
“It’s something we’re hoping will spread state-to-state,” she said. “I want it to go global. I want the soldiers to have pillowcases from every state in the U.S.”
Glass Doctor parent company The Dwyer Group® is proud to support veterans. The company founded VetFran, an International Franchise Association (IFA) strategic initiative, founded in 1991 by The Dwyer Group founder Don Dwyer, Sr., to support veterans returning from the Gulf War transition to the civilian economy. As part of the initiative, The Dwyer Group is proud to offer a 25 percent discount on the initial base territory purchase and special vendor incentives for those who qualify.
Glass Doctor has also been named a 2012 Military Friendly Franchise® by G.I. Jobs Magazine. This is the second consecutive year Glass Doctor has been on the list.
Glass Doctor of Central Carolina employees send the first pillow case package. From left to right: Donna Lee, Jeannine Beasley and Linda Hicks.
