By Thomas J. Sullivan–
Sacramento Blue Star Moms will host a care package party on June 15t from 9 a.m. to noon at Roseville Veterans Hall at 111 Park Drive in Roseville. Volunteers are needed to help pack 350 personal care packages to be shipped to deployed service members all over the world.
Individual care packages are mailed by the Sacramento Blue Star Moms to active duty service members from Citrus Heights area and the greater Sacramento and Placer County area, approximately four times a year.
The nonprofit group asks that those wishing a care package to be sent to their service member confirm that their military mailing address is valid for at least 30 days from their expected shipping date in June.
All care packages contain cards or letters, a note of appreciation and support, and over $50 in products. Each package costs over $15 in USPS postage to ship around the world and donations to the Sacramento Blue Star Moms are welcome to offset shipping costs.
Many of the deployed service members to whom care packages are sent are on the front lines around the world, so each box is filled with individual-sized items that they can use and carry in their field backpacks.
Sacramento Blue Star Moms says preferred items include individual packs of baby wipes, canned/dried fruit (no plastic containers), canned/pouch meat, tuna, chicken; canned vegetables/soup/meals; instant oatmeal in single-serving packets; single-serve coffee and creamers; cookies, eye drops, foot powder, travel-size games, granola and power bars, hygiene items, jerky, lip balm, microwave meals, nuts, nut spreads and trail mix, powdered drink mixes; ramen noodle packs, disposable razors, snacks and socks.
Donations of any of the items listed above can be brought to the Roseville Veterans Hall for the packing event.
The Sacramento Blue Star Moms is a nonprofit military/veteran support organization with a charitable 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. Members are mothers, stepmothers, foster mothers and female legal guardians living in South Placer county and Sacramento county who have children serving in the military, guard or reserves, or children who are veterans.
Visit www.sacramentobluestarmoms.org for more information.