Blue Star moms pack Christmas cheer for soldiers

Local soldiers serving in Iraq will receive early Christmas presents this year, as the Houma chapter of the Blue Star Mothers of Louisiana banded together to solicit donations for care packages.

“We want to get the communities and businesses of the Tri-parish area involved in what we’re doing, and supporting our soldiers,” said group spokeswoman Suzie Johnston.

On Monday, the group shipped 165 care packages. This is the group’s third time sending packages overseas; the first two were sent in December 2006 and July.

A majority of the funds came from the group’s “Red, White and Blue” Day in Lafourche Parish on Sept. 11. Students, school officials and the local business community had to pay a fee to wear red, white and blue to work or school that day. The group raised more than $12,000.

“The more donations we receive, the more packages we can send out,” she said.

Other major contributors were Oakshire Elementary, Holy Savior Catholic and Coteau Bayou Blue Elementary schools, as well as Starbucks.

The Houma and Thibodaux Starbucks participated in a fundraiser, donating more than 160 pounds of freshly-baked coffee beans to the soldiers. Jean Fritshe, a manager at Starbucks, spearheaded the campaign.

With each purchase of a pound of coffee, customers were asked to buy a pound for a soldier, Johnston explained. Starbucks also raised $400 in a car wash. And the business’ national corporation matched the efforts, which gave the Blue Star Mothers a total donation of $800.

“This tells me that people do care and support our children who putting their lives on the life in overseas,” Johnston said.

Donated funds also enabled the Blue Star Mothers to purchase specialty phone cards made by AT&T. These phone cards have smaller service charges than regular calling cards. The cards can only be purchased at a military annex/commissary.

“The calling cards was the one other necessity the soldiers were asking for and we were able to buy 100 calling cards,” she said. “Thank God, a local Marine volunteered to go the commissary on Friday and pick them up for us.”

In order for soldiers to receive the care packages before Christmas, the moms had to work fast. They scheduled two packing days – Friday and Saturday – at the National Guard Armory in Thibodaux. More than 30 volunteers came out to help.

At 8 a.m. on Friday, the Terrebonne Parish Work Inmate trusties loaded the donated items for transport in Houma. The Lafourche Parish Work Inmate trusties were on hand for unloading and sorting at the Armory in Thibodaux.

Saturday morning, volunteers from Coteau-Bayou Blue Elementary’s 4-H and the Beta Club, the local chapter of Red Cross and the local National Guard Armory Post packaged the boxes.

“I am happy to lend a hand in any way I can,” said SSG Chad Reed of the U.S. Army National Guard Delta Company 2-165th IN.

The Blue Star Mothers’ local chapter meets the third Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Cajun Evergreen Center in Gray. Membership is open to all. For more information call Johnston at 447-5200.

Students from Coteau Bayou Blue Elementary School’s 4-H and Beta Club make Christmas cards Saturday to send inside Blue Star Mothers of Louisiana No. 2 care packages for soldiers. * Photo by SOPHIA RUFFIN