Care from Plains

VFW Post 3596 Auxiliary members gathered Monday to send care packages to military people who are away from home.

It was all part of the "Goody Boxes For Service Personnel" program, which the Plains VFW has been doing since World War II, said Nora Verpoorten, an Auxiliary member since 1985 and one of eight volunteers packing goodies Monday.

"It helps support our military personnel and they thoroughly enjoy getting something from home," said Meralise Nass, president of the Auxiliary. "It helps their morale to know we're thinking about them," added Nass. She has participated in the program since she joined the Auxiliary 39 years ago. Last year, they mailed 30 boxes. One year, they had more than 50, she said.

The volunteers put together 14 boxes filled with a variety of items from the smallest item, chap stick, to the largest, a flashlight and included items, such as pens, chips, toothbrushes, magazines, playing cards, dice, and socks, to name a few. The volunteers put several hygiene items in cloth Royal Crown bags donated by the VFW. Each box had a copy of the two Sanders County weekly newspapers, and though the news will be old by the time the members receive their boxes, they still look forward to getting it, said Cindy Gray, an Auxiliary member helping with the packages. "Most of the people that get these are local and there's probably somebody in there they know," she added.

"They're going to be really excited because somebody is thinking about them," said Gray. "It's not a matter of whether they need something or not," said Gray, "it's a thank you for what they do." There are certain things that they couldn't include, such as religious items and scented lotions. Chocolates can go into domestic packages, but not overseas. There were more than 30 items in each box, including a signed Christmas card from the Auxiliary.

There were a lot of food stuffs, which the service men and women love getting, said Auxiliarist Jan Oelshlager. Her son, Air Force veteran Ronald Berry, used to get care packages when he was station away from home. The now retired veteran donated $40 to this year's program.

Someone donated a small toy soldier, said Deborah Davis, whose husband, Greg, retired from the Army 21 years ago. She said their family used to get care packages from the Plains Auxiliary. "We loved it because it was a taste of home," said Deborah. Their son, Daniel, a soldier, used to get them during his tour in South Korea. She said he used to take his package to the lounge to share with his fellow soldiers.

The Auxiliary collected hundreds of items from businesses and individuals from Plains and Paradise. Nearly $200 in cash was donated to buy items and to help pay for postage, said Nass.

The group had the names of six military men, one in the Marine Corps, one in the Air Force, one Army, two Navy, and one Coast Guardsman. Two are stationed overseas, but the rest are in the United States. They hadn't received any women's names as of Monday, said Nass.

Most of the packages will go out this week, but Nass said that if residents have someone they'd like to mail a package to, there's still time, but to get it to a service member overseas, it has to get mailed by Dec. 6. Anyone interested can call Nass at 826-3366 or Verpoorten at 826-3215.

"We get satisfaction knowing that our service men and women are getting a little bit of Christmas, especially since they don't get to come home," said Auxiliary member Karen Royse.

The Plains VFW will be hosting a spaghetti dinner on Saturday, Dec. 7, from 4:30- 7 p.m. Cost is $7 for adults and $4.50 for those 12 and under. Veterans get to eat for free. Following the dinner is a flag retirement ceremony in the club's rear parking lot.