The approaching Christmas season means another holiday missed by the men and women serving in Iraq. Many here are working to make that loss easier to take.
Joyce Fulgenzi has made it her mission to support them.
‘I won’t let them be forgotten,? Fulgenzi said.
She started sending packages overseas at the beginning of the war in 2003. Since then, her Operation Care Package Michigan has expanded to include about 40 volunteers from throughout Michigan, sending care packages to 14 countries around the world. The group has mailed about 50-75 packages a week for the past three years.
She uses her home as a storage depot, and as a place for volunteers to gather and hold ‘packing parties,? twice a month. She and her family set up 8-foot-long tables in her living room, and the volunteers work there while videos and photographs of soldiers play on her television.
‘It’s crowded, but a lot of fun,? she said. ‘We’re always looking for volunteers.?
Several local residents have joined Fulgenzi in her efforts.
‘This is a good thing ? they deserve it,? said Lori Gross of Independence Township, who heard about the project through word of mouth.
‘I think this is wonderful,? said Kerri Perna of Clarkston, who heard about the project while getting her hair done at a local Grondin’s. ‘These guys cannot be allowed to think they’re forgotten.?
Perna brought a group of five volunteers from her local VFW post to help.
Funds and donations are collected at drop boxes, located at Grondin’s 59 locations in Michigan, and collection canisters at local stores and restaurants. They also hold fund-raisers ? a garage sale recently raised $836. All of it goes to the troops, Fulgenzi said.
Much of it goes to postage. To send a standard-size box costs $8.10.
‘Paying for shipping ? that’s the hard part,? she said.
For the Christmas season, the group is sending ornaments and toys, which the troops will give to Iraqi children, in addition to the basics. Always in need are all kinds of useful, small items such as baby wipes, soap, sunglasses, cookies, candy, canned food, toiletries, foot powder, batteries, games, CDs, DVDs, books, and writing material.
‘The ornaments are hand-made,? she said. ‘A lot of them won’t have Christmas trees, but they can still hang the ornaments to celebrate Christmas.?
Several senior-citizen groups make the ornaments as well as hats, gloves, and other clothing items.
‘Whatever we can do to put a smile on a soldier’s face, we’ll do,? she said. ‘I’m not going to give up on them.?
For a complete list of needs and other information, see the group’s website at www.ocpmi.com.