(Nov. 24, 2016) With the holiday season approaching, Anna Foultz and fellow Star Charities volunteers closed out its annual Christmas drive on Sunday by providing local Army National Guard members with care packages for military members stationed overseas.
“It’s been about 18 years, I guess. It’s been so many years,” she said. “Before I did Star Charities, my husband and I used to do it. It started out with four people and then it got bigger and bigger every year.”
Major Rob Wille, with the 115th Military Police Battalion in Salisbury, said the donations would provide a morale boost for nearly four dozen of his fellow soldiers stationed abroad.
“Currently, our battalion has about 40 soldiers deployed in Gitmo (Guantanamo Bay detention camp) and about seven more deployed elsewhere,” he said. “We’ll work with our family support program and get the donations here packaged and sent out.”
Wille said numerous organizations collect comfort items for active duty military members throughout the year, but said this drive was time-sensitive.
“With Star Charities, they specifically wanted to get the donations to recipients during or before the holidays,” he said. “I’ve been involved in others, but this is my first time with Star Charities in my current role.”
Spec. Eric Fletcher said he has participated in donation pickups in the past and recognizes the value in this altruistic pursuit.
“It’s important because it shows the community actually appreciates what we are doing,” he said. “It just shows their way of giving back to us.”
Although stateside at the moment, Fletcher said community donations provided a lifeline during his past tours in Afghanistan.
“Once you see the care package, and it’s got notes and everything, it softens your heart and it gives you a reason to keep pushing,” he said.
Although donations usually include practical items, such as toiletries, Wille said recreational items account for a significant portion and often allow military members to make positive connections with native populations.
“If they’re deployed in Afghanistan, or other regions, and we’re working with the local populace … sometimes organizations will [include] things like stuffed animals, puzzles and we’ve even received toys,” he said. “The soldiers will then take those items and re-gift them to local children and, believe it or not, that builds a relationship.”
Wille said in such instances donations have second and third order benefits in addition to providing comfort for overseas troops.
“It’s saved lives because those relationships with the locals often lead to intel,” he said.
From his experience, Fletcher feels the spirit of support can be contagious when organizations like Star Charities conduct care package drives to support the troops
“The more people see these types of donations, the more others get the idea to do the same,” he said. “It catches on like a chain reaction.”
In addition to seeing numerous donations from individuals and small businesses, Foultz said several new partners made contributions this year. That list includes the Daughters of the American Revolution’s Berlin chapter, AARP Ocean Pines chapter and the Rite-Aid on Manklin Creek Road in Ocean Pines.
Foultz, 90, now has her attention focused on Star Charities’ annual Beef & Beer Fundraiser, which raises money for wounded soldiers in Maryland.
The event takes place on Jan. 27, from 5-9 p.m. at the Ocean Pines Community Center, 235 Ocean Pkwy. Tickets cost $25. For more information or to purchase tickets, contact Foultz at 410-641-7667 or Larry Walton at 443-831-1791.
“It’s been about 18 years, I guess. It’s been so many years,” she said. “Before I did Star Charities, my husband and I used to do it. It started out with four people and then it got bigger and bigger every year.”
Major Rob Wille, with the 115th Military Police Battalion in Salisbury, said the donations would provide a morale boost for nearly four dozen of his fellow soldiers stationed abroad.
“Currently, our battalion has about 40 soldiers deployed in Gitmo (Guantanamo Bay detention camp) and about seven more deployed elsewhere,” he said. “We’ll work with our family support program and get the donations here packaged and sent out.”
Wille said numerous organizations collect comfort items for active duty military members throughout the year, but said this drive was time-sensitive.
“With Star Charities, they specifically wanted to get the donations to recipients during or before the holidays,” he said. “I’ve been involved in others, but this is my first time with Star Charities in my current role.”
Spec. Eric Fletcher said he has participated in donation pickups in the past and recognizes the value in this altruistic pursuit.
“It’s important because it shows the community actually appreciates what we are doing,” he said. “It just shows their way of giving back to us.”
Although stateside at the moment, Fletcher said community donations provided a lifeline during his past tours in Afghanistan.
“Once you see the care package, and it’s got notes and everything, it softens your heart and it gives you a reason to keep pushing,” he said.
Although donations usually include practical items, such as toiletries, Wille said recreational items account for a significant portion and often allow military members to make positive connections with native populations.
“If they’re deployed in Afghanistan, or other regions, and we’re working with the local populace … sometimes organizations will [include] things like stuffed animals, puzzles and we’ve even received toys,” he said. “The soldiers will then take those items and re-gift them to local children and, believe it or not, that builds a relationship.”
Wille said in such instances donations have second and third order benefits in addition to providing comfort for overseas troops.
“It’s saved lives because those relationships with the locals often lead to intel,” he said.
From his experience, Fletcher feels the spirit of support can be contagious when organizations like Star Charities conduct care package drives to support the troops
“The more people see these types of donations, the more others get the idea to do the same,” he said. “It catches on like a chain reaction.”
In addition to seeing numerous donations from individuals and small businesses, Foultz said several new partners made contributions this year. That list includes the Daughters of the American Revolution’s Berlin chapter, AARP Ocean Pines chapter and the Rite-Aid on Manklin Creek Road in Ocean Pines.
Foultz, 90, now has her attention focused on Star Charities’ annual Beef & Beer Fundraiser, which raises money for wounded soldiers in Maryland.
The event takes place on Jan. 27, from 5-9 p.m. at the Ocean Pines Community Center, 235 Ocean Pkwy. Tickets cost $25. For more information or to purchase tickets, contact Foultz at 410-641-7667 or Larry Walton at 443-831-1791.