(A version of this article originally appeared in the May 2020 issue of Military Officer, a magazine available to all MOAA Premium and Life members. Learn more about the magazine here; learn more about joining MOAA here.)

By Contributing Editor Blair Drake

Members of the Sarasota (Fla.) Chapter have supported U.S. servicemembers through the Support our Troops initiative for the past 17 years, distributing more than 50,000 boxes for care packages.

Members of the community fill the preaddressed boxes with suggested items and mail them to deployed U.S. troops.

“We’re trying to get the community involved,” said Chapter President Lt. Col. Ron Wozniak, USMC (Ret). “Unless they have a direct military tie, the American public goes about their daily business, and we want to remind them we have folks out there serving their country.”

Traditionally, members gather prior to a parade (Memorial Day or Veterans Day) for a “box party,” where they assemble the 1,000 boxes, which are delivered from the U.S. Postal Service on a pallet about 7-feet tall. Members place in each large, priority mail flat-rate box a letter from the chapter, suggested items to send and items to avoid, tips for writing a personal note to troops, and instructions for mailing the box, including how to fill out the customs form. Each box also is addressed to senior leaders of various units serving overseas, who will distribute the care packages to servicemembers in their units.

Wozniak and other members of the chapter use their military contacts to connect with the units to send the care packages.

Cost to the chapter is minimal; they pay for printing the letters and address labels and other office supplies such as paperclips and rubber bands. The U.S. Postal Service provides the boxes. And during the parades, a local car dealership typically provides a pick-up truck for chapter members to use. The cost of postage is covered by those who send the care packages.

While there is no way for the chapter to track how many packages actually are sent to troops, Wozniak said the chapter often receives thank you letters and certificates of appreciation from the units.

“We all served,” he said. “We all know what it’s like to be overseas and away from home. To get something like that is very special. That’s why we enjoy doing this project for the troops.”