Care From Home To The ‘Stan’
One group seeks to help soldiers feel like they aren’t walking alone during their deployment, and seeks donations for care packages to deliver in time for Christmas.
Oskaloosa, Iowa – With Veterans Day fast approaching, thinking of those serving their country overseas and of ways to make their service a bit easier is the goal of one area volunteer.
Martie Hanley is the founder of “Our Class has Clas” (Children Love All Soldiers). Hanley then worked with Oskaloosa Community School District, Twin Cedars Community School District and the Melcher-Dallas Elementary. Hanley has also worked with any business that wanted to support the project.
Hanley recently became an Army mom when her son Allen enlisted. During his time of training, there was little opportunity to communicate.
Hanley researched the internet for support groups to help her understand more about being a part of the “Army Family”. In her search, she discovered a Facebook page dedicated to the family of one particular unit. While reading and connecting on the page, it became apparent to Hanley that some soldiers, while deployed, were not receiving mail or other support from home.
Hanley has since become determined to make a difference to the soldiers. “My son was only gone for ten weeks and was about a thousand miles away from home. These deployed soldiers are across the world, many for the first time, and are gone between nine and twenty-six months!”
Hanley says that yes, soldiers do receive pay and can buy the necessary items themselves, but believes “we ALL owe it to these soldiers who are protecting us, they have everything they need and know someone cares about them.”
Hanley says that every donated item will be sent to soldiers in Afghanistan who are not receiving support from home.
The boxes for Oskaloosa are located at the Elementary, Middle and High School until November 9th. In a letter sent home with area students, Hanley gave the opportunity for a student to write a letter to a soldier. “If your child chooses to write to a soldier, please use a generic starting line such as “Dear Soldier” and do not put a return address on the letter. To ensure your child’s safety and to ensure I do not violate OPSEC rules, child as well as soldier information will be protected. Please have your child sign letters with their name and school.” This is done in case there is return correspondence, Hanley knows where to direct the mail from which it originated.
The plan is to have these packages to a deployed soldier in time for Christmas. If you have any questions, you can email Martie Hanley at hanleym@wmpenn.edu
The approved military donation list is as follows:
- Snacks and foods high in protein
- Beef jerky/beef sticks, summer sausage
- Cheese spreads/small Velveeta cheese blocks
- Dry cereal, Chex Mix, chips, cookies, crackers for snacking
- Dried fruit, energy bars/cereal bars/high protein bars/granola bars
- Little Debbie & other snack cakes
- Nuts (all kinds), pudding cups
- Paper, journal, pens, pencils
- Stamps, envelopes, address book
- Toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss
- Shoe inserts, corn/blister pads, Gold Bond Foot Powder
- Toenail/nail clippers, unscented deodorant
- Baby powder, unscented shampoo/conditioner combo
- Unscented lotion, unflavored chap stick
- Unscented baby wipes, unscented flush-able wipes
- Sugar free MENTHOL cough drops (must be menthol)
- Razors, shaving cream (Cannot be in a can), must be cream style that comes in lotion bottle.
- Q-tips, travel size Kleenex packages, bar soap
- Moleskin (found in health and beauty sections; helps with blisters)
