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Care packages sent to local vets serving abroad

Times Observer photo by Andy Close A card made by local elementary students is prepared to be sent off during Saturday’s Blue Star Mothers of Kinzua care package packaging event at First Presbyterian Church in Warren Dozens of people, including a large number of high school students with the Warren Area High School football team, came out to fill care packages to send to local military members who are currently serving abroad.

Veterans Day is a time to honor the brave men and women who serve so that we can enjoy the great freedoms our country has to offer.

The Blue Star Mothers of Kinzua and, on Saturday, decided to give back in a big way.

They gathered at the First Presbyterian Church in Warren to put together care packages to send to local military members currently serving abroad.

“They’re being sent to 11 different countries, with every branch of the military represented,” said Blue Star chapter president Skyla Govier. “All of us Blue Star moms have a child or a couple of children in the military. We cover every branch of the military. We have one mom who has a child in the Coast Guard. The rest are Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines.”

Community members came out in full support, and what was most noticeable was the presence of so many young people.

Times Observer photo by Andy Close Warren Area High School senior Sawyer Mohney puts together a care package to send to local military personnel currently serving abroad. The event was put on by the Blue Star Mothers of Kinzua.

The Warren Area High School football team was heavily involved, as a large contingent put together care packages.

It was a humbling experience, as many of the military personnel they are helping are just a few years older.

“To see the young kids getting involved truly is amazing,” Govier said. “Volunteering has become a little bit of a dinosaur, so it’s great to see them coming out today on a Saturday morning, bright and early in the cold, to help us package for the troops.”

Elementary school children were heavily involved as well, making holiday cards for the troops, many of whom won’t be able to make it home to see their families.

“We have had schools involved in making homemade cards for our troops because they aren’t going to be home for Christmas because they’re fighting for our freedom, so we wanted to give back,” said Govier. “That’s what this is all about.”

There was a large assortment of items that were packaged. Basic essentials such as toiletries and items of that nature, as well as flip-flops, snacks, playing cards, and various puzzle books were included.

“Even if people weren’t able to make it, you just look at these tables and they’re completely filled,” said Govier. “We spent $1,300 to buy products, but other than that, all of the products here were donated.”

This is all very personal for the moms, but they made sure that it was the same for everyone who came to help. Other than the toiletry items, those who came to help were free to arrange their packages the way they saw fit.

“We package the toiletries, tape them, put them in a bag to sure they don’t contaminate the rest of the box, and then you just come and pick; pick whatever you want to make it special,” Govier said.

“We have a card at the end that says this package was packaged with love by, and then you sign your name, so we want it to be personalized as well. We do put in there that it was from the Blue Star moms, but we also want them to know it wasn’t just the Blue Star moms. There are people all over our community that are praying for our children. We want it to be personal to the person packing as well.”

The Blue Star Mothers are a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Those wishing to make donations can send them to Blue Star Mothers of Kinzua, P.O. Box 324, Warren, PA 16365.

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