Blue Star Mothers Of Tulsa Team Up To Help Soldiers

The Blue Star Mothers of Tulsa are changing how they help heroes from the homefront. The group prides itself on giving troops a little taste of home.

Recently, the women received an email from a U.S. Army Master Sergeant in Afghanistan.

He said his 100-member unit just moved to a remote location and could only bring with them what they can carry in backpacks.

Packing tape finishes off packed boxes inside of a packed room in downtown Tulsa.

President Cheryl Bradford said the group spends its weekends packing up donated pieces of home to send to military men and women.

But that special email asking for help has started a mission called Bed, Bunkers and Beyond.

"They are sent with whatever they can take in a backpack, so they're just kinda at our mercy," Bradford said.

The soldiers only are asking for items like twin bed sheets, towels, toothpaste and toiletries.

"There's female soldiers that don't have any of their feminine products or anything like that," Bradford said.

While most items like toilet paper, candy bars, or person hygiene items are donated, one of the Blue Star Mothers biggest expenses is shipping.

A box like this cost 14.85 to ship overseas, and when you consider they send out over 200 a month, you can see how that can add up pretty quickly."

"Some family can't afford to send things to their deployed military, some don't have family to send things to them," said Kristy Ehrlich, who has a son and daughter who are deployed. "It's good therapy, knowing you can go in and help somebody."

No matter where the packages go, Dolores Quinn sends all her boxes off the same way.

"I do this, I don't know if anybody else, does, but then I give each box a kiss," Quinn said.

The Blue Star Mothers also need items like soap, shampoo and shaving cream.

Fox Cleaners accepts donations and also USA Signs at 9242 S. Sheridan Rd. You can also leave donations at the Blue Star Mothers office at 907 S. Detroit Ave.