BA Blue Star Mothers Needs Donations To Help Troops

Several hundred U.S. soldiers need your help getting some basic supplies, like toothpaste, toilet tissue and ChapStick.

Every month, Broken Arrow Blue Star Mothers on average sends out 175 boxes. Each of the $14 boxes holds about $40 work of goods, so the cost adds up fast.

A group of America's youngest are helping America's finest - the men and women who serve our country.

The Arrow Height Wee ministry, with the help of the Blue Star Mother's Broken Arrow chapter, decorates and stuffs care packages for soldiers in Iraq.

The president, Janet Viel, recently received a letter from the USO saying three military bases have soldiers in need.

"It broke my heart. It made me mad, I went over the J curve. As a mom, how can we not be supplying our troops with toothpaste, toothbrushes, toilet paper shampoo deodorant, snack items," she said.

The list of what they need is even longer. 

To make it happen, they need donations. 

Viel said, "And there's things people can do that's free. Everybody goes to Arby's or Sonic or Taco Bell and they get those sauce packets - don't throw them away. They buy the newspaper and they have crossword puzzles - save those, save the comics."

While the snacks and art may not seem like much, to a soldier stationed overseas, it's huge.

Army veteran Joshua Dunn said, "It's the little comforts. You gotta imagine that everything that you know and are comfortable with, and everything inside your bubble is removed all of a sudden and you're kinda stuck with what the Army gives you and, unfortunately, right now, that's not too many luxury items.

"There's not too many things to look forward to when you're in a combat zone and these are one of the things you look forward to at the end of the day."

Blue Star Moms say it's important to not just think about our soldiers during the holidays, but all year long.

If you'd like to help, you can find more information here.