Volunteers to assemble troop holiday care packages this weekend

Posted 11/20/14

Operation Holiday Cheer moves into high gear this weekend with the collection and sorting of donations this Saturday at the Rhode Island National Guard Armory, 541 Airport Road in Warwick, followed …

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Volunteers to assemble troop holiday care packages this weekend

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Operation Holiday Cheer moves into high gear this weekend with the collection and sorting of donations this Saturday at the Rhode Island National Guard Armory, 541 Airport Road in Warwick, followed by the packing of care packages on Sunday.

Both events will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The drive accepts donations from the public from the Troops’ Wish List, as well as cards and letters to the troops. The Wish List is available online at www.ltgov.state.ri.us/ohc.

On Sunday, Lt. Governor Elizabeth Roberts and Major General Kevin McBride, Adjutant General of Rhode Island and Commanding General of Rhode Island National Guard, will welcome dozens of volunteers to pack and ship care packages with donated items and some Rhode Island favorites such as Del’s lemonade, Dunkin Donuts coffee, Hasbro games, personal care items from CVS and Ocean State Job Lot, as well as PawSox and New England Patriots Game Day programs and Providence Sunday Journals.

In past years, groups and individuals throughout the state have donated thousands of items for the care packages. The operation, widely regarded as the feel-good event of the holiday season, involves filling 350 holiday care packages for Rhode Island troops who will be serving abroad at the holidays. The United States Postal Service will be on site Sunday to prepare the packages for shipment overseas.

Corporate and community sponsors as well as the general public have already made or pledged tens of thousands of dollars in donations, postage, in-kind donations and wish list items. Operation Holiday Cheer is coordinated by the Lieutenant Governor’s Office and the RI National Guard Family Assistance Program.

Online monetary donations can be made via the American Red Cross RI Chapter website at www.riredcross.org, mailed to the American Red Cross Rhode Island Chapter to the attention of Operation Holiday Cheer at 105 Gano St., Providence, RI 02906, or dropped off at Saturday’s event.

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