Friends, families pack supplies for troops

Tue, May 13, 2008    to del.icio.us

GRAND HAVEN TOWNSHIP — Friends gathered Saturday afternoon at the Forest Park Club House in Grand Haven Township to fill packages for U.S. Army soldiers who don't otherwise get support from back home.

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The effort started when Army 1st Sgt. Mutt Nelson — currently serving in Kuwait — told his wife, Vickie, that a group of young soldiers weren't receiving any mail since they shipped to the Middle East country in April. Vickie Nelson told a group of friends about the troops and support grew from there.

"Our efforts to send items to troops was a huge success," said Gayle Landsman, a friend of the Nelsons. "We received so many items, it took three (sport utility vehicles) to bring everything to our packing party."

Organizers received help from the Grand Haven VFW and Peach Plains Elementary students and staff. The VFW helped with shipping costs, and Peach Plains students and staff held a drive to receive donations for the packages.

"It was a neat, neat experience for everyone," Landsman said. "Some of the (Peach Plains) kids had just gone nuts and brought in tons of stuff."

More than 40 friends of all ages came to organize the goods into packages to send to the troops. At one point, Mutt Nelson even called from Kuwait to talk with the volunteers.

The majority of items sent were practical, like suntan lotion and granola bars — but the packages also included movies, magazines, books and squirt guns.

Seventeen boxes were sent out to the soldiers who don't receive mail, and the rest of the 60 soldiers in Mutt Nelson's unit will get a smaller package. Each soldier will also receive cards or letters from Peach Plains students.

Organizers are hoping the packages will get to Kuwait this week.