HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital and HCA Florida Twin Cities Hospital hosted volunteer events this week as part of a three-hospital effort to assemble approximately 1,800 treat bags and collect handwritten letters for deployed U.S. military service members.

• The initiative combines two connected volunteer programs, Treats for Troops and Write to a Hero, both benefiting Forgotten Soldiers Outreach, a nonprofit that sends monthly care packages to deployed service members around the world. HCA Florida West Hospital in Pensacola is scheduled to host its event Thursday.

Fort Walton-Destin Hospital kicked off the effort Tuesday afternoon, with Twin Cities Hospital in Niceville following Wednesday morning. More than 50 colleagues across the three hospitals are expected to participate. Volunteers assembled treat bags containing protein bars, nuts, fruit snacks, beef sticks and power drink mix, all of which will be provided to Forgotten Soldiers Outreach for inclusion in its care packages.

KC Donahey, CEO of HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital, said the initiative carries special meaning in a region shaped by its military presence.

“One of the things I’ve learned since moving to this community is what it means to live in a military community,” Donahey said. “Not just the service members you see out and about, but all the families that are represented as well.”

That connection to community, Donahey said, makes it easy to rally hospital staff behind volunteer efforts.

• “We are in the business of service,” Donahey said. “Our staff has a heart for taking care of people. When they can step outside the walls of this hospital and find ways to volunteer and help, it’s an easy ask.”

Donahey said the initiative isn’t just about the troops who receive the packages.

“It’s not always about the troop getting the care package,” Donahey said. “It’s also about giving our people the opportunity to participate at a different level with what’s going on outside of our little area here in the world.”

The treat bags build on an effort that began earlier this summer through Write to a Hero, in which HCA Florida colleagues wrote letters and cards of gratitude and encouragement for deployed service members.

One colleague, Natalie Machin, extended the initiative to Belen Summer Camp in Miami, where children created dozens of handmade cards with messages of encouragement. Those cards joined letters from HCA Florida colleagues and were provided to Forgotten Soldiers Outreach for inclusion in care packages.

Founded in 2003, Forgotten Soldiers Outreach has sent monthly “We Care” packages to deployed troops for more than two decades. The organization reports its efforts have benefited more than one million deployed service members.

HCA Healthcare has more than 18,300 military-affiliated colleagues at its hospitals nationwide.