Care Packages District 5

     Members and family of the Veterans & Family Support (VFS) Committee gathered at VFW Post-10188 in Tucson to assemble Care-Packages for National Guard Troops currently deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq. The VFS Committee is composed of District 5 VFW and Auxiliaries, Military Family Resource Groups (FRGs) and other volunteer groups. The VFW is a strong contributor to the VFS Committee, and many FRG members have joined the VFW. Department Commander Betty Gripp and Department Surgeon L. ‘Corky’ Gripp joined many VFW and Auxiliary members at this event, including Auxiliary Department VP Ronnie Heinemann; Auxiliary Secretary and District 5 VFS Chair Kim Sloan; with Post-10188 President Eileen Bedel and Commander Mike O’Daniels, among others.
            Items for the Care Package are considerable and varied: cookies, candies, toothpaste, dental floss, even a toy; in total, a collection of many reminders of every-day life at home. All of the items were donated by individuals; some by organizations such as ‘Tucson Troop Support’ and many items came from the recent “Support Our Troops” drive at Bashas’. Altogether, there was more than enough material to assemble well over 450 Care-Packages at this VFW-10188 event.
            At first glance the Care-Package ‘assembly’ process seems chaotic, with people running in all directions with determined looks on their faces. But after a few minutes comes the realization that there is a method to their madness. Items are separated into bins, like an assembly-line. Volunteers then grab an oversized ziplock sandwich bag and stuff it with goodies as they pass down the line. Two volunteer children add a toy before the bag is sealed. These packages, which are ready to burst, are then placed into cartons which are addressed to units designated by FRGs. Cartons are then delivered to “Packages from Home” in Phoenix, which arranges delivery to the overseas unit.
            This was a really ‘feel-good’ event. Lots of smiles and good humor at this one, no frowns.

VFW Department Commander Betty Gripp unloads items for Troops Care-Packages that were prepared at Tucson Post-10188.

VFW-10188 members Gary & Chrissy Harlan add a touch of “TLC” to Care Packages that are destined for the 640th. Chrissy is the ‘Unit-Mom’ and their son, Daniel Rowland, currently serving in Afghanistan, is also a life member of VFW-10188.

VFW Auxiliary-10188 President  Eileen Bedel and FRG member Claudia Munoz team-up to prepare Troop Care Packages. Claudia’s husband is deployed with the 1/158th.

Volunteers put the ‘final touch’ on Troop Care Packages at VFW Post-10188 in Tucson. Pictured is Gary & Chrissy Harlan with Mrs. Jerry Lujan, member of “Tucson Troop Support”.

VFW Post-5990 member Jim Ellars and Auxiliary Department Vice President ‘Ronnie’ Heinemann take a time-out from preparing Troop Care Packages to do some planning for future events.