Apex teens pack goodies for troops

To support the thousands of North Carolina troops serving overseas, an army of young volunteers gathered in Apex recently for a “care package party." The Triangle chapter of the Blue Star Mothers organized the event.

Posted 7:56 p.m. Dec 21, 2009 — Updated 10:23 a.m. Dec 22, 2009

APEX, N.C. — To support the thousands of North Carolina troops serving overseas, an army of young volunteers gathered in Apex recently for a “care package party." The Triangle chapter of the Blue Star Mothers organized the event.

In an assembly line at St. Andrew the Apostle Catholic Church, teens packed socks, playing cards, beef jerky, trail mix, popcorn and pudding.

They put gifts for female soldiers into boxes marked with an “F.”

"They have the smelly lotions, smelly shampoo, hairbrushes, shower caps and things that remind them that they're a woman while they are still serving our country," Patti Elliot, of Blue Star Mothers of America, explained.

The Blue Star Mothers are proud military moms who put their time and effort into granting requests from troops. Those who have served in the military say hand-packed goodies from home remind them they have not been forgotten.

“When you're out in the field, you're in the dirt, you're in the grime, you tend to forget your humanity a little bit, and this brings it back home to them,” veteran Chuck Spain said.

“If we can lighten and brighten their day just a little bit, we've served our purpose,” Elliot said.

Many of the teens who took part in the packing party had someone special in mind.

“I have a cousin who is in the Army right now and I send care packages like this to him all the time,” Nicholas Pizzuro said.

“He always sends messages back like, ‘Thank you. I used those wipes today out in the field to wipe down my gun and what not.’ It really makes me happy to know we are helping soldiers who are putting their lives on the line over there."

The teens at St. Andrew put together 140 boxes to be sent to troops.

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