San Mateo, Burlingame box up gifts for troops
So-called care packages' are prepared locally, then sent to Iraq
Members of the U.S. Army's "Screaming Eagles" may be smiling a little more this holiday season, thanks to the generosity behind Adopt-a-Unit programs in Burlingame and San Mateo. Volunteers from the two cities, including schoolchildren, sent "care packages" stuffed with goodies to members of two units of the U.S. Army's 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) while they are deployed in Iraq. The 101st's nickname is the "Screaming Eagles."
The San Mateo and Burlingame residents have sent them DVDs, disposable cameras, candy, food, video games, holiday cards, magazines and other items.
"I have a binder in my office of 'thank you' notes they sent last deployment and this deployment, and it is incredible," said Central County fire Chief Don Dornell, who has helped organize Burlingame's efforts. "These are young guys, and some of them don't have families. To get a message from a stranger ... it goes a long way."
Burlingame adopted its unit, Bravo Company, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, in 2004.
Both cities have promoted the program on their Web sites and by word-of-mouth.
In Burlingame, Mercy High School, the Girl Scouts and other schools and organizations have helped out.
Burlingame officials estimate that they have sent 231 boxes to their unit since the two companies deployed to Iraq for 15-month stints this past September. Burlingame has "boxing parties" in which volunteers package all the donations up.
A late-November boxing party attracted 35 volunteers, Dornell said.
"I get phone calls all the time from people who hear about it or want to make a contribution," Dornell said.
To find out more about the two cities' Adopt-a-Unit drives, call Dornell at 650-558-7604 for Burlingame and Norma Gomez at 650-522-7040 for San Mateo.
E-mail Mark Abramson at [email protected].
- Written by Joe
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