Group spreads joy to active-duty military men and women with care packages

Several local organizations have partnered to collect items for Blue Star Mothers of America, a nonpolitical 501(c)3 nonprofit made up of women with children who are currently serving or have served in the military. The personal care items, non-perishable foods, games, notes of support, and letter-writing supplies that they gathered will be made into care packages and distributed to soldiers who are deployed.

Participants in the April-June 2016 drive included: FBI Citizens Academy Alumni Association, South Carolina Association of Residential Care Homes, South Carolina High School League, GWA Electrical Engineers, Inc., The Evaluation Group, Research Associates, DuBose Web Group, and Columbia Conference Center. In early July, the organizations handed over several large boxes filled with hundreds of donated food, personal care, and entertainment items to Blue Star Mothers, the group that will assemble them into care packages and oversee their distribution. In addition to the care packages, Blue Star Mothers also organizes and supports other troop-related projects, such as providing services to families while military members are deployed overseas and collecting backpacks and clothing for soldiers to distribute to children in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The drive was coordinated by a coalition of companies and non-profits in the northwest Columbia area who work together on community service projects to improve the lives of people in their communities. Most of the organizations also invite their customers to participate as well. Anyone who is interested in joining this group or being notified of upcoming community service opportunities may email [email protected].