My Nonprofit Reviews

We, at Main Street Out Loud, are proud supporters of our troops, active and veteran. We are always interested to learn of organizations that are actively involved in military support efforts.

Before we ever endorse an organization, we travel to its base and get to know the organizing members and some of the volunteers. We had heard of The Hugs Project and, in time, among other stops, we traveled to Oklahoma to get a firsthand look.

From the moment we met Ray and Karen Stark (founders of The Hugs Project), we were more than impressed---we were overcome with gratitude. The feeling of true love and care for our troops was more than about the story as to how they started this organization; the feeling was felt in the air, in the rented space, in every box prepared for shipping and in the hearts of everyone we met.

Many organizations start off meaning well, but in time, they become a business with too much overhead and not enough sincerity in caring for the objective. Physical locations, admin costs and salaries erode the loving foundation upon which too many of these organizations are originally built and the once cherished daily functions become burdensome chores carried out in a robotic manner.

Unlike the way of organizations mentioned, The Hugs Project is every bit the organization started more than 15 years ago---if anything the love and care has increased through the unadulterated dedication to its founding principles of caring for our troops.

From our first meeting in 2010 to this day, we have stayed in touch with and supported The Hugs Project. We have had Karen Stark on the air, as our guest during special broadcasts regarding our men and women in uniform. And yes, we have even become close friends with Ray and Karen; we consider them as part of our extended family.

The Hugs Project, under the hands-on daily guidance of Ray and Karen Stark, is not only in good hands, it is surely the standard bearer for the true meaning of charity. Packed with the necessities so needed by our troops, also included is love without boundaries and sacrifice without limits. And while our troops need the material items, the boost in moral through the warmth felt as they open their packages---they get "Hugs" too.

Imagine the world if all social cause nonprofits (as The Hugs Project) were grounded in the purity of charity (love).

Without reservation, I, as executive producer and host of Main Street Out Loud, believe that no other nonprofit organization deserves recognition and support more so than The Hugs Project.

Rudi K
Main Street Out Loud