Family members of the Army Reserve 319th Transportation Company will gather Friday night to put together care packages to send to their loved ones in Iraq.
"We're putting in the packages that we want brought to our soldiers," said Teresa Kennedy, the head of the 319th Family Support Group. "We're putting cards, letters, and maybe some candy, baby wipes and anything for skin cleansing.
"We're including those items because most of the time, they aren't anywhere close to a bathing facility," explained Ms. Kennedy, whose husband, Lt. Richard Kennedy, is with the 319th in Iraq.
Sgt. Kathleen Taylor, an Army reservist who works with the support group and whose husband recently retired from the 319th, said one of the biggest needs is the funds to send the packages.
"The military is not paying for this to be shipped; the families are," Sgt. Taylor said. "If people want to assist but can't stop by, they can also help pay for the shipping."
Shipping to the Middle East costs $1.60 per pound, she said.
Sgt. Taylor said the packages should arrive about 14 to 16 days from the time they are mailed Saturday.
"We're hoping the packages arrive on Easter Sunday," she said.
Ms. Kennedy said the weight limit for boxes directed to individual soldiers is 1 pound.
Donations not directed to a specific soldier will be shipped in large boxes addressed to the company commander, Capt. Mohandas Martin, said Sgt. Taylor.
These boxes will be labeled with what's inside, and the commander can give out what each soldier needs, she said.
"SunTrust (Bank) called, and they said they're taking up a collection," Sgt. Taylor said. "We've had all kinds of students donate, too, including a kindergarten class that sent hand-drawn pictures.
"It's going to be nice for a lot of the soldiers. Those cards will make a difference."
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Donations are welcome. For more information, call Sgt. Kathleen Taylor at (706) 481-1563, or Teresa Kennedy, the head of the support group, at (803) 593-3594, or e-mail irishcat@bellsouth.net.
Checks to defray the cost of shipping can be sent to:
c/o Sgt. Kathleen Taylor, 319th Family Support, 319th Transportation Company, U.S. Army Reserve Center, 3311 Wrightsboro Road, Augusta, GA 30909.
Reach Jeremy Craig at (706) 823-3409 or at jeremy.craig@augustachronicle.com.
