A Lexington based organization is expanding its care package program for military servicemen and women. Military Missions is sending additional holiday boxes to military members stationed overseas who are not signed up to receive them.
For almost 10 years, Military Missions has sent care packages to troops in places like Afghanistan and Iraq. This year, many of the Christmas bundles include a smaller buddy box that's meant to be shared with a fellow service person who's not signed up for the program. Spokesman Larry Neuzel says one donor contributes sports cards which are very popular. "And he will put them in little plastic bags and he'll bring a whole big box full of them. So when I have a unit, I will try to put those in there, thinking that maybe the guys will get a variety; maybe somebody's interested in basketball, somebody's not. Well, then they can trade cards there," said Neuzel.
Neuzel says generic greeting cards are much needed at Military Missions. He says 5,000 to 6,000 packages go out each year in four separate mailings. Neuzel says kids' games are included in the packages. "We'll try to put some of those in there because again our military may want to make friends with the villagers and so the kids over there are always around, so we try to put in some games that maybe, if the military person can't use, then they give it to the kids to make friends there," added Neuzel
Neuzel says close to 500 buddy boxes have been distributed this Christmas season. He says Military Mission volunteers receive cards, letters, and pictures from military personnel.?