Any time’s a good time to brighten a soldier’s day

MAT-SU — Frank Roach is on a year-round mission to make sure U.S. servicemen and women are as comfortable as possible and reminded that those back home care for them. Establishing Boxes For Heroes in 2006, Roach has helped deliver thousands of care packages to men and women serving aboard.

He continues his effort this weekend at Three Bears grocery store on the Palmer-Wasilla Highway, collecting everyday items that can help troops mentally, physically and spiritually. He believes the effort lifts the spirits of those thousands of miles away serving the country.

Frontiersman: What is your hope for this drive of Boxes For Heroes?

Roach: We are gearing up for our spring drive right now. Coming off that super successful holiday drive, we are just trying to get these boxes out to our troops. I have been at Three Bears today and yesterday picking up donations, gifts and things to be shipped out.

F: What is the most memorable aspect of this program?

R: I would have to say the impact it has had. This past holiday drive, we had about 20 people come in from the National Guard and help put the boxes together. And in one hour’s time we put over 900 boxes together. It was pretty amazing.

F: What impact does this program have on the troops?

R: I get e-mails almost on a daily basis from soldiers who have received one of these boxes we have put together just thanking me. You know the guys and girls out there do not want to be forgotten, and that is what it is about, remembering them. Most times they don’t realize they’re even going to get a box, and when they do it’s a big surprise for them.

F: How has the public support been for your program?

R: Tremendous. In fact, this past holiday drive between the Mat-Su Valley and Kenai we put together 1,900 boxes, which is twice as many as we did the year before. It was truly a record-breaking year.

F: Why do you think you have been so successful?

R: You know, you may be against the wars going on, but our soldiers are there defending our freedom that we take for granted every day. And packages like these show our thoughts and support, and I think people realize that. The support we are getting from the Valley is because everyone in the Valley knows about our cause and, if they can’t donate money, they will donate their time and energy to help in another aspect.

F: What are some of the most cherished items troops receive?

R: Ha! Surprisingly, baby wipes. I mean, some of these soldiers are out there in the field for two weeks at a time and can’t get showers, so the baby wipes are a like dream come true. It is definitely our most popular item. But other than that, useful things like eye drops, foot powder, skin lotion — just simple stuff.

F: What is the best way for people to help Boxes For Heroes?

R: They can swing by the Boys and Girls Club in Wasilla and drop off any donation that they wish between now and May 1, when we start packing this stuff up to send out.

Contact Lanier Hutcheson at lanier.hutcheson@frontiersman.com or 352-2265.