PAW PAW, Mich. — Blue Star Mothers of Southwest Michigan #179 is beginning preparations for their annual Operation Holiday Cheer event.
Each year, the nonprofit puts together holiday care packages to send to family members and friends in the military who are deployed.
The organization is made up of women whose children are either actively serving in the military, guard, or reserves or are veterans.
"Having another mom who knew the ins and outs of what's happening during their training sessions, what's happening when they deployed and how to speak and what not to share publicly. It was, it's just a really encouraging thing for the mom to have somebody else who understands," said Laura De Roo, president of the Blue Star Mothers of Southwest Michigan.
Last year, the nonprofit mailed 108 boxes for Operation Holiday Cheer filled with games, Christmas stockings, letters, food and hygiene items to deployed service members.
This year, Operation Holiday Cheer will take place on Nov. 9 at 1 p.m. at the Paw Paw Lions Club.
Almost a month away, the organization is starting to gather supplies and monetary donations to pack the boxes full of holiday cheer.
The nonprofit said monetary donations can be made payable to "Blue Star Mothers MI # 179" and mailed to P.O. Box 406, Paw Paw, MI 49079. These donations are tax-deductible.
Individually packaged items are best for care packages. There are no glass containers, aerosol or alcohol allowed because they can't be shipped. Chocolate is also not allowed because it will melt.
The following items are needed:
- Beef Jerky
- Socks – crew or tube – black
- Tuna, chicken or salmon in a pouch
- Chapstick
- Dinty Moore beef stew
- Small baby powder
- Microwavable cups – single-serve
- Foot powder
- Individual peanut butter/Jiff to-go packs
- Kleenex singles
- Individual jelly or honey packets
- Travel-size toothpaste
- Individual packets of condiments
- Eye drops, saline
- Pop-Tarts
- Razors – disposable
- Individual boxes of cookies (Oreos)
- Okeef's working hand cream, small container
- Individual boxes of cereal
- Cough drops
- Small containers of Pringles
- Benadryl
- Microwave popcorn
- Tylenol/Advil
- Nuts/trail mix/dried fruit (single servings)
- Baby wipes
- Twizzlers
- Feminine products/tampons
- Single-serve drink mixes (Crystal Light/coffee)
- Washcloths
- Gum
- Tweezers/nail clippers
- Electrolyte candies
- Band aids
- Hard candy
- Moleskin – covers blisters
- Colored pencils
- Freezer zip lock bags
- Adult coloring books
- Greeting cards
- Word searches/activity books
- Hats
- Comic books
- Pillowcases
- Card games (Uno, etc.)
- Prayer squares
The organization also needs written letters of support and holiday cards for the service members.
Drop boxes will be placed at the Bangor Simpson United Methodist Church, Gobles United Methodist Church, Lawton Evangelical Church and New Community Church until Nov. 5.
If you need something picked up, contact De Roo at (269) 365-8666 or Debbie Siwula at (269) 491-4685 and leave a message.
All donations for the packages must be received by Nov. 8.
If you'd like to send a deployed family member or friend a holiday care package, Blue Star Mothers of West Michigan needs their complete name and shipping address, as well as your name and contact information.
You can send the information to their email address at president.mi179@bluestarmothers.us or by mail to Blue Star Moms 179, P.O. Box 406, Paw Paw, MI 49079
All addresses must be submitted by Nov. 1.
