Postage needed to send to soldiers

The packages filled with everything the soldiers need sit waiting to be mailed. The problem is, there is no money for postage to mail them.

Rickey Pope, supervisor of the Family Assistance Center of our local National Guard Unit 2/198 Armored Battalion is asking for the public’s help to not only donate items for the soldiers, but for financial help to mail those packages to the soldiers who have been deployed to Iraq.

“Project Package” is now up and running, according to Pope. He stated that after January 15, all of our soldiers will be in Kuwait, and by February 1, all 170 soldiers will be in the battle zone in Iraq.

“We have packages here at the center for the men who deployed as early as December. We just don’t have the money to mail them,” Pope said. He estimated that the average cost to mail the packages is about $15 per package.

Project Package is sending letters to ask local church congregations to help in the effort. They are also interested in placing containers in local businesses for customers who want to contribute. “I hope that businesses will allow us to do that,” Pope said. He added that he hopes to open a special account locally just for postage money.

Pope also said that any donation for the soldiers is greatly appreciated. “We will always accept any donations from anybody,” Pope said. He stated that that needed items include snacks, gum, toiletries, and reading materials. “Our goal is to send one package per month per soldier,” Pope said.

For more information call Pope at 562-6920 or E-mail him.

By: LaJuan Tallo, News Editor.