Groveland Twp. – State trooper Andrew Knapp is among the soldiers in a military unit separated from their families the second Christmas in a row.
Knapp, an Oakland County native, serves with the U.S. Army National Guard 2nd 425 LRS Unit of the 202nd Battalion, currently stationed in an undisclosed Iraq location.
Mary Vickrey, secretary at the Michigan State Police Groveland Post, recruited donations from businesses and residents of the community, who responded willingly.
‘People were just really excited to come out and help,? said Vickrey, who spent most of her weekend organizing items sent in 39 packages.
An Oakland County school recorded a DVD greeting for the unit, to be played on a portable DVD player donated by the Fenton Wal-Mart store.
The post also sent letters, cards, disposable cameras, food, stationery items and stamps, magazines, DVDs, phone cards, leisure items, can-openers, and personal items.
The packages, each requiring a detailed customs form, cost approximately $700 to ship, covered by community donations.
They’re all addressed to Knapp.
‘He’ll get all of them in his name, and he’s going to share with his unit,? Vickrey said.