Troop Support

My name is Mayr Malool and I have been sending care packages to soldiers for about three years now. It started with a friend who wrote and asked me to send a Christmas card to her cousin who was in Iraq on his first Christmas away from home. I ended up sending a few boxes of cookies and snack foods as well as Hickory Farms cheeses and holiday-type goodies for him and his buddies to share.

He wrote to thank me and told me how much his unit appreciated it and that touched me so much that I decided to do more. I asked friends and neighbors to donate goods and asked some World War II vets I know to help me pay for shipping and my "Support Our Troops" effort began.

One of the friends I asked for donations was Pam Fentress, who is a member of the Lake Placid Jaycees. Pam took my request to the Jaycees and they generously donated $500. To date they have given more than $2,000, and together with various other friends and neighbors, we have sent 12 different soldiers 123 care packages filled with cookies, candy, coffee, beef jerky, batteries and gobs of other treats from home. My Avon lady, Jeannie Fullard, donates dozens of lip balms, antiperspirants, moisturizers and bug guard/sunscreens each time I ask for a donation! Everyone has been very supportive.

Recently, I was told about a Web site called AnySoldier.com and went online to check it out. There you can get the names of soldiers to send packages to. I challenge your readers to adopt a soldier and join the rest of us in supporting these very brave young Americans. For those who normally donate money to political elections, I say use that money instead to support our troops, and by all means let the politicians know that this year your money will be spent on these worthy Americans, as I believe that will send a message to Washington! Your readers can contact me if they need help in this effort at 863-699-5825.

These care packages we send are a small way of thanking these brave young people for the sacrifices they are making everyday, the difficult job they are doing, often in the most inhospitable places and weather. I pray that God will bless them and keep them in His care and bring them home to their families soon.

I may not support the politicians who start wars, but I support our troops wholeheartedly and am so thankful for their bravery and their willingness to serve and represent the U.S.A. in such honorable ways. God bless them all!

Mayr Malool
Lake Placid