Care packages readied for Christmas transport overseas to troops

Troops overseas will receive care packages in time for Christmas, thanks to donors and efforts by the Lawton-Fort Sill Chamber of Commerce.

Atop a large meeting table at the chamber offices, 302 W. Gore, Military Affairs Vice Chairperson Janie Billingsley sorted through an assemblage of items donated by local business and the community as they readied to ship out. She said the items will take at least two weeks to reach their destinations and military installations overseas to be distributed to deployed soldiers.

“It gives these soldiers overseas during the holiday a nice surprise for them,” she said. “It lets them know … we are thinking of them and supporting them 110 percent. The soldiers appreciate it and we appreciate them.”

Among the items are household staples like detergent and soaps, toothbrushes, card games and individually wrapped non-perishable food items, including protein snacks for the soldiers and their families, Billingsley said.

“Coloring books and word searches are really popular,” she said. “There are things soldiers might need when they’re out (in the field). They love Slim Jims and Oreo cookies.”

Billingsley said the shipments of care packages will arrive to their destinations where they’ll be divided up by the commanders and distributed to those soldiers most in need.

COVID-19 shut down the program for a couple of years before restarting in 2022. It’s grown exponentially this year, according to Billingsley.

“Last year we had donations for 80 soldiers,” she said. “This year we’re giving to 450.”

More donations are being taken for another donation shipment. Billingsley said members of the public and businesses wishing to enlist in this aid can drop off items at the chamber office between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and Monday through Wednesday. Final deadline for donation is 1 p.m. Thursday.