Esma Orgeron
July 2, 2007
NSU business college dean elected to state CPA board
July 4, 2007In celebration of the Fourth of July, several organizations have banded together to bring Christmas in July to American troops via care packages.
Blue Star Mothers of Louisiana No. 2, a non-profit organization based in Schriever, is continuing to collect items for the packages.
As a mother with a son in the U. S. Marines and a group founder, Susie Johnston said, “If we can support the New Orleans Saints football team, then we can support our soldiers. At least the soldiers are giving something back.”
Johnston’s son, William IV, begins his second tour in Iraq this July.
With a list compiled by troops, Blue Star Mothers are seeking basic personal items, toiletries and non-perishable food items. The troops have also requested some items civilians may take for granted, Johnston said.
Donations for Christmas in July will soon be capped off. However, the group is still accepting donations for the actual Christmas care packages. The names of soldiers in need of care packages are also being accepted.
The group will prepare the items for mailing July 13-14 at the Gray Baptist Church. Volunteers wishing to help can call Johnston at (985) 688-5146 for specific times.
And Blue Star member Judie Barbera has come up with a “We Support the Troops” of her own. She’s selling camouflage bandannas and U. S. Armed Forces flags for $6 and $20, respectively.
“You can write a message on the bandannas, and put it in a soldier’s care package,” she said.
The money will aid the Blue Star Mothers in their effort to increase the number of care packages sent to the troops.
Barbera doesn’t have a child in the armed forces; this is her way of supporting the troops. “When 9-11 happened, people were waving flags and being so patriotic. And, now we have soldiers dying in Iraq and you see very few flags flying,” she said.
To purchase a flag or a bandanna, contact Barbera at (251) 604-3152.
In addition, several Mary Kay consultants have joined Soldiers Angel’s, a non-profit organization, to aid the troops as they weather the scorching desert heat.
The Mary Kay teams have put together SunCare packages for the soldiers, which can be purchased for $60 a set. The sets include two sunscreens, two lip protector sunscreens and one after-sun replenishing gel.
Mary Kay consultants Debby Nezat and Sheri Bardeleben said the organization set a 1,000-order goal for the month of June. Companies and individuals are being asked to “challenge” each other toward reaching that goal.
“We want the troops to know that we remember them,” the consultants said.
Nezat and Bardeleben are not taking a profit on the products purchased; instead, they are using the money to buy more products. “In other words with the price you pay for one set, you are helping two soldiers,” Nezat said.
Donations can be made out to Sheri Bardeleben. On the memo line of the check, write the Soldiers Angel tax ID No. 20-0583415. Checks can be mailed to 176 Walnut St., Houma, LA, 70394.
For more information contact Nezat at (985) 713-1398 or Bardeleben at (985) 876-2215, or visit the Soldiers Angel Web site at www.soldiersangel.com.
The following is a list of items requested by the troops:
Non-perishable foods:
Candy, gum, mints
Cookies, crackers, snake cakes, chips
Energy bars
Tuna in pouches
Beef jerky
Ramen noodles
Granola/cereal bars
Microwave popcorn
Hot chocolate mix
Kool-Aid/tea/power-aid drink mix
Dried fruits
Potted Meat/Veinna sausages
Anything in pouches or microwave containers
Personal hygiene items for men and women:
Deodorant
Conditioner/shampoo
Lotions
Toothpaste
Maxi-pads with wings
Q-tips
Dental floss
Razors
Wet-Wipes
Lip balm
Toothbrushes/dental floss
Combs/brushes
Sun-block
Eye drops
Icy Hot/Ben-gay
Cough drops
Bed sheets (white, twin size)
White cotton socks and undershirts
Accessory Items:
Stationary and envelopes
Greeting cards to send home
AT&T phone cards
Music CDs
Movie DVDs
Batteries (all sizes)
Handheld travel games and toys
Frisbees/small Nerf footballs
Crossword/jigsaw puzzles
