Contributions sought in Coweta for soldiers' care packages
By W. WINSTON SKINNER
winston@newnan.com
Local residents are being asked to contribute items for care packages to go to soldiers overseas.
The Coweta Service Center of the Salvation Army is collecting items for the project. A focused push for donations will be held Saturday from noon-5 p.m. when boxes for donations will be in place at the service center.
Stephanie May, service center director, said the drive will continue through May 12. Items needed include snacks, toiletries, body protection, flashlights, batteries, coffee, beef jerkey, travel size wipes, Chap Stick, DVD movies, pens, notepads, game books, T-shirts, linens and Bibles.
May asked that there be “no hotel samples” for toiletries.
Monetary donations “will go to postage in sending the packages,” May said. “Each box is $11.35.”
May said the plan is to send the packages before Memorial Day. “There are men and women fighting every day for our freedom, and this is a small token to thank those who are serving,” she said. She said the Salvation Army is glad to partner with the community in “putting together Care Packages for our soldiers who are serving around the world.”
For more information on the Salvation Army project, email troopsour@yahoo.com .
Several other local groups are sending packages to service members overseas on a regular basis.
Heatherwood Baptist Church continues its ministry of sending “soldier boxes” to servicemen around the world.
“Since the program was begun in 2005, Heatherwood has sent nearly 3,200 boxes and in return has received many letters of appreciation – most of them from men and women stationed in the Middle East,” said member Ed Crouse.
“We may just keep on keeping on,” said volunteer Randy Thompson,” until the last box comes back marked ‘No Longer at This Address.’’’
