Team Pete groups join to support deployed Airmen

  • Published
  • By Dave Smith
  • 21st Space Wing Public Affairs staff writer
PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. --  For those deployed around the globe, even the most simple, typical creature comforts can become important when they are not accessible. To help a little bit around the holidays, three groups from Peterson Air Force Base are stepping in to share some spirit.

In collaboration with the Peterson 5/6 Council, Air Force Space Command Headquarters A2/3/6 Booster Club and the Peterson Company Grade Officers' Council put together gifts bags for 300 joint service and multinational personnel to support Operation Resolute Support Mission Afghanistan 2015. The project is a joint service morale event.

"We wanted to do this because we all have, or most likely will have, a time when we will be away from our families during the holidays," said Tech. Sgt. Kristal Coleman, 21st Force Support Squadron, one of the event coordinators. "It's important for us to provide support for our fellow brothers and sisters in arms."

The idea to send the packages formed within the Peterson 5/6 council. A former member of the group reached out to request donations for deployed personnel during the holidays. Deciding it was a good cause the 5/6 group partnered with the other clubs to gather donations to fill the bags and assemble them for shipping.

Putting the 300 individual bags together took a few hours when the group got together Nov. 18. The completed bags filled 12 large boxes, Coleman said. They will be mailed to the deployed recipients in time for the holidays.

The treats and personal items were donated from various sources around base over the span of a few weeks Coleman said. Which items to send was based on requests from deployed personnel. Working from a list of requested items allows each bag to have more bang for the buck, because the items meet needs and wants and won't be put aside in "community boxes."

The bags have a mix of useful personal items and comforting snacks. Example of the contents include M&Ms, granola bars; various types of gum, beef jerky, fruit candies, flavor packets for water, air fresheners, lip balm, travel-sized lotion and hand sanitizer. To provide holiday ambiance some decorations to be used in personal spaces are found in the bags. Rounding out the care packages are holiday notes from area school children.

Anyone intending to send care packages to deployed troops for the holidays should follow the advice of numerous web sites and the example of the 5/6 club: ask the recipient for some suggestions. Some items, like chocolate, may not travel well in certain seasons, while other items may be readily available at the deployed locations.
For more ideas visit: http://www.militaryspot.com/news/christmas-care-packages/

 

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