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Deadline near for soldier care package donations |
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Monday, 16 November 2009 |
SDN Staff Reports
Those interested in donating candy, phone cards or Christmas cards toward the planned Project SOS Christmas care package drive for National Guardsmen currently serving in Iraq have until Friday to do so.
A drive is under way to prepare another round of care packages for the soldiers for Christmas, with a work day set for 10 a.m. this Saturday at the National Guard Armory to get the packages ready for shipping in early December.
All donations must be brought to the SDN offices by 3 p.m. on Friday.
“We have been contacted by several folks and groups who are collecting candy for the Christmas care package drive, but very few have dropped off any at the newspaper offices,” said SDN Editor Brian Hawkins, who is helping to coordinate the project. “We’re asking folks who are collecting candy to let us know so we can plan to purchase any that we need above what is donated.”
Each of the Christmas care packages to be shipped will include an 18-inch Christmas stocking filled with hard candy and gum for the soldiers to enjoy, a special T-shirt being designed for the troops by the Oktibbeha County chapter of the MSU Alumni Association, a specially made Christmas music CD, a miniature Christmas tree and Christmas cards made by children at local elementary schools and those sent from the public.
Many of those items have already been donated, including money to cover the postage costs involved in shipping the packages to Iraq. Donations are needed for the following items.
• Candy and gum for the Christmas stockings — Because of often extreme daytime temperatures in Iraq and the Middle East, no chocolate, caramel or soft candies will be shipped.
Hard candy such as Jolly Ranchers, peppermints, spearmints, butterscotch or cinnamon candy, lollipops/suckers or Life Savers are needed, and bubble gum or stick chewing gum is needed.
• Christmas cards or letters — Though some school children are making cards for each of the 165 care packages to be shipped, cards from the public are also encouraged. They should contain a short note or letter of support or appreciation in addition to holiday wishes and should not be addressed to any specific soldier.
• Telephone cards — One thing that is especially meaningful to deployed soldiers is to be able speak by phone with their loved ones during the Christmas holidays. International calling cards are requested, and, if possible, at least one for each of the 165 care packages would be needed.
Donations may be brought to the Starkville Daily News offices at 304 E. Lampkin St. during regular business hours (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) Monday to Friday.
Project SOS (Support Our Soldiers) is sponsored by the Starkville Daily News in conjunction with the Greater Starkville Development Partnership’s Military Affairs Committee and the assistance of other community organizations.
The initiative recently saw the successful mailing of 164 care packages totaling a combined 1,239 pounds to soldiers in the Starkville-based 2nd-114th Strike Battalion serving at bases in an around Mosul, Iraq.
The previous care packages were shipped in mid-October and were warmly received by the soldiers, Guard officials said.
Anyone with questions about the Christmas care package drive for Project SOS can contact SDN Editor Brian Hawkins by e-mail at
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 17 November 2009 )
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