Holiday spirit to be sent overseas
By Melissa Muntz Community Reporter

Religious education classmates (front, l to r) Michaela Hummer, Devinne Zadravec, Julie Hamilton, (middle, l to r) Sarah Kelland, Megan Waite, (back, l t r) Stephen Trudeau, Ryan Clark and Blake Jeznach are collecting donations for soldiers in Iraq, including Julie's brother. PHOTO/SUBMITTED

Shrewsbury - When Julie Hamilton's religious education class had to agree on a service project to work on together, she had a project idea that hit close to home - creating holiday care packages for soldiers stationed in Iraq.

Julie's brother, Anthony, had just shipped out to Iraq a few weeks earlier and Julie knew he wouldn't be home for at least one Christmas. She wanted to make sure that Anthony and all of the men and women he's serving with had a little piece of home this holiday season.

"It's important for them to know that people support them over there and people are keeping them in their prayers," Julie said.

So Julie and her classmates are collecting donations of white cotton socks, handheld games, decks of cards, puzzle books, nonperishable snacks and cards and letters from people who would like to extend holiday wishes.

"The soldiers don't get to use the phone a lot, and letters are the main way they can talk to people and find out what's going on back here," she said.

The class is hoping to ship 80 holiday care packages, one for each member of Anthony's unit. The U.S. Post Office has donated the boxes, but the group is collecting donations for shipping, which is $9 per box.

Hamilton said that the outpouring of support she and her classmates have received made her feel like people really understand how much the packages will mean to the soldiers.

"They keep coming over [with donations] and say that they're keeping my brother in their prayers, and that means a lot," she said.

For Julie's classmate Ryan Clark, the care package project is as much about supporting Julie as it is about supporting the troops.

"She's a really big part of this project and it's probably lifting her spirits to see so many people helping," he said.

Supplies and financial donations can be dropped off at St. Mary's Church. If sending food, avoid pork products as they will be confiscated at the Iraq border.

The group will collect items until Sunday Nov. 25. Monetary donations can be mailed to Santa for Soldiers, c/o St. Mary's CCD, 20 Summer Street, Shrewsbury, MA 01545. Checks should be made out to St. Mary's CCD.

All other donations can be dropped off at St. Mary's Hall, Shaw's Supermarket and Walgreens in Shrewsbury.