Military Support Group needs help to continue their mission Kathy DeMarco of Caledonia had the idea of sending packages to the men and women from Cal-Mum who are serving overseas. DeMarco thought that the packages would remind those who serving far from home, away from family and friends, that they are being thought of. In 2004, the Cal-Mum Military Family Support Group organized and began taking donations of items that were carefully packaged and sent overseas. "We are a group of people who have someone in the military. Our purpose is to send a little love and a little taste of home to members overseas," DeMarco said. Dozens of packages have been shipped to service men and women over the past three years since the group’s inception. They have received numerous notes and cards of thanks, expressing how much it meant to receive a package from home. DeMarco and the others in the group have operated strictly by donations and have raised the money to ship the packages through baked food sales and dinners. Now, with the increased postal rates, DeMarco says she expects the cost of shipping to sharply increase. Donations are more necessary than ever, she said. They held a baked food sale in Hamilton Park following the Memorial Day service at the legion to raise some money for shipping the next group of packages. "The last shipment of 36 packages cost us $384. With the increase in postage, we will see an increase. We are in desperate need of donations for shipping and items to put in the care packages," DeMarco commented. There is a long list of items that can be included in the care packages and include pens, pencils, powder, other personal hygiene items, sunscreen, chapstick, mints and other non-melting candy, snacks, envelopes, writing paper, eye glass cleaner, crossword books, gum, instant coffee and more. If you would like to donate items for the care packages, make a monetary donation or add a name to the list to receive a package, call Kathy DeMarco at 538-6298.
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