Jun 29, 2008 11:02 pm US/Pacific
Local Volunteers Prep Record Shipment To Troops
Care Package Shipment To Deployed Soldiers Believed To Be Largest Ever
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) ―
Sacramento volunteers are working into the night to help put together the largest shipment of care packages ever for troops overseas. Boxes filled with cookies, beef jerky, deodorant, sunscreen and other items will follow the troops into war zones thanks to an internet fundraiser that went far better than expected.
Volunteers for the group Move America Forward has taken over two office units in downtown Sacramento, filling boxes with the supplies as fast as they can.
One of the units has boxes stacked to the ceiling, a testament to the success of the group's fundraising effort. The group had hoped to raise $500,000 for the project.
"We shattered that with $1.5 million," said Donald La Combe. "It's just amazing. The orders are still coming in."
The fundraiser windfall is expected to result in the largest single shipment of care packages to U.S. soldiers ever.
Move America Forward is a conservative organization based in Sacramento, but they say this effort isn't conservative or liberal. It crosses party and country boundaries, La Combe said, and holds special meaning as the 4th of July holiday approaches.
"A lot of people have barbeques and family functions [for the holiday], but they forget what Independence Day really means," he said.
Internet donors typed messages for the troops that are taped to the items inside the care packages. "May God bless you and keep you, and defend you from all evil. Thank you for serving your country," one reads.
It's a reward for the service member, and a reward for the volunteers. "Very very [rewarding]," said Barbara Florian as she packed boxes.
"I get choked up thinking about it," she adds.
Move America Forward is still accepting donations for the project until July 2.
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