FLUVANNA – The holiday season is generally spent with family and friends, but for some brave men and women serving our nation overseas, they do not get a chance to be with loved ones.
A group in Chautauqua County is working hard over the past decade to change that by packaging gifts and needed supplies for service men and women.
Susan Rowley, President of the Blue Star Mothers Lake Erie New York Chapter 4, said she is currently in the midst of their annual campaign that will conclude Saturday with a care package packing event.
“We always say we are the vehicle because now we have the ability to get boxes to our troops, but our community is our fuel,” said Rowley.
Rowley spoke with WNYNewsNow this week about the amount of community support that goes into this process.
“Last year, I said we felt like a rocket because it was just amazing and I am hoping we feel like a rocket again this year,” explained Rowley. “More and more people know what we are doing and more, and more names and addresses are submitted to us.”
“We are just trying to reach those heroes that are serving away from their family this Christmas, and we have a lot of local heroes that are first on our list.”
The Blue Star Mothers are still accepting donations. Susan said community members can drop items off at the Fluvanna Community Church.
She hopes to send anything from individual sticks of beef jerky to baby wipes, hand sanitizer, and sunscreen.
The Christmas care packing event is Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the church.
