Sending care packages to servicemen and women stationed overseas
Abstract
Sending care packages from home to soldiers who are stationed on foreign soil has a positive impact on morale. In New York, AmeriCorps members of the West Seneca Youth Bureau collaborated with the American Red Cross, Greater Buffalo Chapter to gather and sort toiletries and to compose notes of appreciation to send to soldiers stationed overseas. Lynda Sentz of the West Seneca Youth Bureau submitted this effective practice in January 2003.Issue
Developing programs that pool resources to send to soldiers stationed overseas to help with their material needs and psychological support is one way that volunteer programs can make an important contribution.Action
The West Seneca AmeriCorps Youth Bureau assisted the American Red Cross Greater Buffalo Chapter with Operation TroopCare, an effort to send care packages to soldiers stationed overseas. Effective practices included:- The American Red Cross Greater Buffalo Chapter solicited donations of toiletries from individuals, organizations and businesses in the western New York community.
- Members of West Seneca AmeriCorps assisted with picking up the donations that had been collected in large barrels at local stores, banks and other public venues.
- AmeriCorps members joined the American Red Cross for a sorting day on January 16, 2003 at the Masten Avenue Armory in West Seneca.
- Vietnam Veteran and Department of Housing and Urban Development Buffalo Region Director, Steve Banko, addressed the group of AmeriCorps members before the sorting began. Banko, the most decorated living veteran in western New York, related his own experiences in times of war and emphasized the positive impact care packages from home have on soldiers who are stationed on foreign soil.
- About 35 AmeriCorps members and 17 members of the Buffalo Housing and Urban Development office teamed up to sort through the donations.
- During the course of the day travel-size toiletries including lip balm, sunscreen, toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, hand sanitizer, foot powder, soap, disposable razors and shaving gel were sorted into large barrels.
- In addition, AmeriCorps members composed notes of appreciation that were also sent to service men and women.
- During the second phase of the project (March 2003), AmeriCorps members will complete the packaging of the items -- approximately 10,000 care packages in all -- and they will be shipped overseas.
Context
The West Seneca Youth Bureau is committed to improving the community through various programs aimed at addressing important social issues. Youth participants are encouraged to get involved in their communities through various programs enabling them to gain valuable experience and social skills.
West Seneca AmeriCorps hosts seven programs including tutoring with America's Promise, AmeriCorps*VISTA, Youth Build, Erie County Youth Conservation Corps, Governor's Violence Prevention Program, Service Action Program and Urban Revival Corps.
Two AmeriCorps*VISTA members are assigned to the Greater Buffalo Chapter of the American Red Cross. They are engaged in community disaster education and are expanding the American Red Cross community safety initiative. Another 30 AmeriCorps members have been trained to respond to a disaster in the community and assist with dissemination of information to the public as well.
Outcome
Serving collaboratively on this community safety initiative helped strengthen an already strong partnership that will promulgate a network of volunteers who are trained and ready to assist with matters of homeland security.Soldiers stationed overseas will receive an estimated 3,500 to 4,000 care packages.Posted On
January 28, 2003For More Information