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Date: 11/3/2022
MONSON – For the eighth year, the Monson Military Care Package Campaign will bring joy to service members around the holiday season.
The program was founded by Karen King, a local realtor. After reading posts on social media about supporting service members, King said she thought back to when she was a girl scout leader. “[My troop] sent packages to people overseas to cheer them up,” she shared. “It brought back memories and patriotism.”
To bring this offering to the service members of Monson, King, along with several volunteers and donors have worked to carry out this program year after year. This year, 31 service members from Monson representing the Navy, Coast Guard, Army, deployed National Guard, Marines and Air Force will each be receiving two gift boxes.
The gift boxes include snacks, hygiene products, T-shirts, crafts and more. “Through this, I get to meet with military moms and have found out that they [service members] don’t get everything they need,” but instead must purchase it themselves, shared King. The gift boxes are meant to take away that burden.
“[The gift boxes] are meant to cheer them up,” said King. She added that it’s nice to receive packages from home around the holiday season when you can’t physically be there.
The organization’s goal this year is to raise $5,000 so that they can additionally send Visa gift cards to each service member. King noted that they have raised $5,000 in previous years. At press time, she said they were up to $3,000.
To assist in the process, Adams Supermarket in Monson will be hosting a “Round Up” campaign from Nov. 6 to 12. On Nov. 10, Main Street Tavern in Monson will be hosting a fundraising night from 4 to 9 p.m. King said that 10 percent of proceeds will go toward the campaign.
“Every single dollar raised goes back to them,” explained King, whereas the money donated goes toward the gift cards.
Donors include Monson Savings Bank, who pay for postage each year; Treehouse Brewing is donating t-shirts and Silver Bell Farm is providing Christmas tree ornaments, along with many other local businesses.
King said Girl Scout Troop #64811 will be decorating the gift box flaps, and local boy scouts and school children will be making cards for the service members.
All the donations must be received by Nov. 10.
On Nov. 20, the packaging event will take place.
To learn more about donating, what items are still needed and where to drop off the items, visit the program’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/131835794048807.
Interested donors can also call King at 348-3948 for more information.