Holiday care packages, gift drive aim to help homesick soldiers

With military personnel serving
overseas this holiday season,
student organizations are holding
drives and sending care packages
to soldiers to help them cope with
their separation from loved ones.

VCU’s Alpha Sigma Chapter of
the national co-educational honor
fraternity, Phi Sigma Pi, has been accepting
donations for three soldiers
serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“Through this drive, we hoped
to bring attention to the financial
and emotional sacrifices of a group
that is often overlooked: military
service members and their families,”
Phi Sigma Pi service chair Jeannette
Aiken said.

This is the first time the fraternity

has held the event, but
because of the positive feedback
the organization has received
from the community, the group is
considering making it an annual
drive, Aiken said.

The Student Veterans Association
at VCU also is sending care
packages to soldiers assigned to
a platoon at Camp Liberty in
Baghdad, Iraq. SVA President Keia
Watkins said it is important to
recognize U.S. soldiers.

“This project is important for
the SVA because it helps our
organization support those who
fight for the freedoms that we may
overlook everyday,” she said. “We
want to make sure that soldiers
feel appreciated even though they
are away from their loved ones and
family members.”

The SVA is an association that
supports veterans and their educational
opportunities. The SVA also
has a direct connection to the
Veteran Affairs Office at VCU.

Veteran affairs coordinator James
Chambliss said he is pleased with
what many students are doing
around campus for soldiers.

“VCU student organizations that
support U.S. troops during the
holidays or at any time make me
beam with pride because it shows
me that some members of VCU’s
student body support the troops
regardless of how they may feel
about the wars,” he said.

Chambliss knows firsthand what
it is like to be away from home – he
served 20 years of military service
and had to endure many holidays
without his loved ones.

“Nothing can compare to the
pain – long and repeated deployments
that the service member
and his or her spouse, if married,
and their children go through,”
he said.

Some things soldiers need the
most are lip balm, sunscreen and
comfortable socks. In addition,
Aiken suggested adding special
treats for the holidays.

“Snacks and sweets spread
holiday cheer, but sugar-free drinks
mixes are essential. Soldiers need
entertainment,” she said. “Books,
movies, music and games are great
gifts.”

Watkins thinks giving to the
soldiers especially at this time of
year will help them cope with being
away from their families.

“I know that it can be lonely
and depressing for some,” she
said. “The SVA would like to help
show soldiers that there are other
people besides family who care
about them.”

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The Stocking for Soldiers Drive will end this Sunday,
Dec. 2. Goods are being accepted in the University
Student Commons Virginia Rooms from 6 p.m. to 8
p.m. Sunday. A list of requested goods can be found
at adoptaplatoon.org/new/pdf/care.pdf