HIAWASSEE, Ga. – John and Rosemary Whalen of VFW Post 7807 are on a mission to supply and ship care packages to as many U.S. military troops serving overseas as possible. The couple is asking for the community’s assistance in making the goal a reality. Items are needed to fill the care packages, and monetary donations for postage are necessary to ship the conatiners to those who serve. The cost to mail a single box amounts to approximately $18, and the local VFW has mailed 39 in recent months, the Whalens explained.

“Our ultimate goal is to send every troop in the field a care package from the United States from us at home,” John Whalen said. “Well, Afghanistan has 14,000 troops alone, a major undertaking.”

John and Rosemary Whalen have volunteered with Operation Care Package for the past 18 years, signing on post-9/11.

A date to “assembly line” pack the donated items is expected to be announced at the Oct. 15 county courthouse meeting. Towns County Commissioner Cliff Bradshaw, a strong supporter of the military and its veterans, offered the VFW use of an area at the Foster Park – Towns County Recreation Center once a date is determined, likely in early November.

The Whalen’s provided an example list of items typically contained in the care packages.

Food Items:

• Crackers – cheese or peanut butter
• Trail Mix
• Nuts
• Chips
• Granola Bars
• Candy, gum, mints
• Water flavoring packets
• Beef Jerky
• Oatmeal
• Premade meals
• Apple Sauce

Toiletries:

• Hand lotion
• Shampoo
• Soap
• Toothbrushes
• Toothpaste
• Foot powder
• Baby wipes
• Razors
• Deodorant
• Feminine products

Checks to aid in the shipping effort can be mailed to:

VFW Auxilary, Operation Care Package, P.O. Box 624, Hiawassee, GA, 30546.

For additional information, contact Rosemary Whalen at 762-525-0515.