Group helps raise gift boxes for military

MAT-SU — One group in Alaska is trying to make holidays more typical for the men and women in the military serving abroad.

The Alaska Veterans Foundation is supporting the Boxes for Heroes program, which is gathering care items for deployed personnel. The collection is at Three Bears grocery store on the Palmer-Wasilla Highway today through Sunday. The collections will also be at the Pittman Three Bears Monday through Wednesday.

Frank Roach created Boxes for Heroes four years ago in an effort to help military personnel serving around the world.

He hopes this year will be better than any other.

“We did over 1,200 hundred boxes last year and this year we are shooting for 2,000, but we may even exceed that,” Roach said.

This year’s turnout has been fantastic so far he said. “People have been great and I already have about three carloads of items today.”

Each box contains a variety of goodies ranging from peanuts, beef jerky, razors, insect repellent, disposable cameras and magazines.

The items are collected by Roach at various locations around the Mat-Su Valley and are assembled by the children at the Boys and Girls Club in Wasilla. From there the National Guard’s Family Services Department helps mail the boxes to the military in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Roach said that without the communities outreach none of this would be possible.

“Over three hundred business in the Mat-Su Valley helped this year alone and last year we raised fifteen grand used for postage and gifts.”

He added that, “Even though some people may not support the war, everyone has been so good in supporting the soldiers.”

And the soldiers really appreciate it, said Roach, who has hundreds of emails, cards and letters sent from soldiers who received the care packages.

Roach said if people are not able to make it to the donation locations to give items, they can contact the Alaska Veterans Foundation to donate funds at 775-5787.

Those wishing to send a box to an individual soldier email Roach at boxesforheroes@yahoo.com with the soldier’s name.