The Mid-Columbia Make a Difference Day Committee has set a lofty goal this year of putting together up to 500 care packages and sending them to deployed troops.
The Committee has partnered this year with UStroopcarepackage.com and the Columbia Basin Veteran’s Coalition to help put the project together.
The 2012 Make A Difference Day will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 27 at the Holiday Inn Express in Pasco, next to TRAC.
Hollie Logan, of the MADD Committee, said volunteers will be needed to help assemble the care packages.
“This is a great project for families, civic and corporate groups,” she said.
In addition, there will be opportunities for kids to participate. Lunch will be provided for all volunteers.
Cash sponsorships and donations are being accepted and any additional proceeds will be used to benefit the Columbia Basin Veteran’s Coalition.
Make a Difference Day is a national event held annually on the fourth Saturday of October. Each community that participates picks a project to do and sends out a call for volunteers.
In 2010, nearly 400 volunteers helped transform Richland’s Goethals Park into a nature playground.
Logan said this year’s goal is large, but attainable.
She said the team behind ustroopcarepackage.com has operated out of the Tri-Cities for more than 10 years, but due to “overwhelming circumstances,” were not able to continue their mission in 2012.
Logan said the Mid-Columbia Make a Difference Day Committee wants to be the organization’s special forces and help them carry out their mission.
“The timing couldn’t be better,” Logan said. “With Veteran’s Day and Christmas just around the corner from our event date, it presents the perfect opportunity for us to show gratitude, and, in our own way, honor and reward these soldiers for their sacrifice.”
Donations are also being sought that will go into the care packages. Items needed include:
· Chips or snacks in 2-3 oz. plastic containers or individual snack packs.
· Dips in 9 oz. plastic containers or cans.
· Trail mix or popcorn snacks in 7-8 oz. snack packs.
· Individually wrapped crackers, cookies, power bars.
· Cereal in individual boxes or plastic cups.
· Cheese in squeeze containers that don’t require refrigeration.
· Canned snack packs of fruit or nuts.
· Pudding or Jell-O snack packs.
· Heat and serve plastic containers of soup, lasagna, ravioli, spaghetti, macaroni and cheese, chili, beef stew, chicken and dumplings, etc.
· Easy open cans or vacuum packs of chicken, turkey, salmon or tuna.
· Individual powdered drink mixes.
· Salt, sugar packs, creamers, spices, Tobasco, etc.
· Small flashlights, bulbs, batteries.
· Insect repellent.
· Writing paper, envelopes, pens.
· Handheld games.
· Movies and music (DVDs & CDs)
· Hand warmers and foot warmers
· packing tape
· Ziploc bags in all sizes
· Mailing labels (3.25”x4”)
· Baby wipes
· Laundry soap (single-load packs)
· Shampoo, conditioner
· Lotion (tube only)
· Sunblock, aloe vera
· Hand sanitizer
· Liquid body wash
· Deodorant (roll-on or gel only)
· Non-aerosol shaving cream
· Eye drops
· Saline spray for sensitive nasal passages
· Individual facial tissue packs
· Toilet paper
· Q-Tip travel packs
· Feminine hygiene products
· Disposable razors
· Foot powder, baby powder
· Dr. Scholls Moleskin
· Blistex, Vaseline, Carmex (squeeze tubes)
· Toothpaste, toothbrushes, dental floss/picks
· Mouthwash
· Travel sizes only. No aerosols. Nothing that will melt. No pork.
For more information, go to www.midcolumbiamadd.com or call Logan at 308-3528.
by Mary Hopkin
Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business
