June 12. By Dave Yochum. Susan Tillis and a crew of volunteers in Cornelius loaded $80,000 worth of baby items that were shipped to military families at Fort Bragg. Tillis, an Allen Tate manager in Davidson as well as the wife of US Sen. Thom Tillis, said that all items will be bundled into welcome home packages for newborns of junior enlisted at Fort Bragg.

The annual income for the recipient families is only about $21,000. Many of these new parents—in addition to having limited financial resources—are often separated by distance from family and support systems and often lack the basic necessities just to bring their babies home from the hospital.

Since its inception Red, White and Bundled has served almost 6,300 families to date, including more than 1,700 last year.

Tillis organized the 4th Annual Red, White and Bundled Baby Shower May 10 at Cornelius Town Hall. The event, which brings out political leaders and ordinary people alike, grew out of her visit to Fort Bragg in early 2015 where she saw firsthand the needs of our soldiers’ families.

“These men and women are fighting for our freedom. It seems the least we can do is to ensure a happy homecoming for their new babies,” said Tillis.

The Susan M. Tillis Foundation also provides aid to transitioning service members by providing the proper tools for reintegration into the civilian workforce through its Heroes to Work program. The Foundation also emphasizes the needs of the often forgotten Caregivers of Wounded Veterans through multiple touch points of support. The foundation is a 501 c(3) in support of active duty families, caregivers and veterans.