SOMETHING FROM HOME

150 care packages prepared for National Guard troops in Qatar

EL CENTRO — The 150 members of the California National Guard’s Alpha Company 578 BEB, currently stationed in Qatar, are not forgotten.

American Legion Auxiliary Unit #25 and a host of community volunteers made sure of that Sunday morning by preparing 150 care packages to ship overseas to the hometown troops.

Some 68 volunteers turned up at the American Legion Boyce Aten Post 25 on Broadway for an assembly-line process that involved filling U.S. Postal Service Priority Mail flat rate boxes with snacks, toiletries, playing cards and other sundries.

Auxiliary President Dawn Rascoe said the organization has sent care packages to troops in the past, but typically 30 or so at a time. This was the first time the group had organized the project on this scale.

Fortunately, there were a lot of people willing to pitch in. Local businesses, Legionnaires from multiple posts, professional organizations, local schools, and various clubs were among those who contributed items, money and labor.

“Look at all the volunteers today,” observed Wanda Hylton, a volunteer herself who’s a former snowbird and now a permanent El Centro resident. She clearly appreciated the level of community spirit on display.

“I love this city,” she said.

Patricia Thompson, of Imperial, was also on hand Sunday to fill boxes. Daughter of a 94-year-old World War II veteran and member of the Imperial County Patriotic Planning Committee (whose co-founder, El Centro City Councilman Jason Jackson, was also present), she said she was really impressed with the response to the event.

“I think it makes a really big difference (to the troops),” she said. “It lets them know somebody at home cares.”

The local National Guard unit was deployed to Qatar in May. They’re expected to be home late spring or early summer of 2019.

PHOTO TOM BODUS Volunteers gather behind the 150 care packages they boxed up Sunday morning at the American Legion Boyce Aten Post 25. The packages will be shipped to Qatar, to members of California National Guard Alpha Company 578 BEB, out of El Centro.

PHOTO TOM BODUS Some 68 volunteers were on hand Sunday to make pretty quick work of the care package project organized by the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 25 in El Centro. Boxing commenced around 10 a.m. and was finished within a half hour.

The Imperial Valley Chargers Fan Club kicked in $500 to help defray the costs of sending the care packages overseas. Pictured, from left, are club Secretary Gloria Granillo, club Vice President Jeannette Johnson, American Legion Auxiliary Unit 25 President Dawn Rascoe, club member Kelli Holmes, American Legion District 30 Cmdr. Tracy Rascoe, and El Centro City Councilman Jason Jackson. PHOTO TOM BODUS Continued from A1