2012 donations for military lag

The message is simple: You’re not alone. But getting the message out may not be so simple this year.

Donations for the 7th annual Project Holiday are just not coming in.

The program is an annual effort that collects goods and sends holiday care packages to the men and women serving overseas with the goal of reaching hundreds of military personnel overseas to let them know they’re not forgotten.

Delores Rangel, an administrative assistant for the city of Delray Beach, started the project when her daughter Melissa Wood was deployed to Iraq.

Since then, and even though her daughter completed her enlistment, she has sent thousands of boxes filled with necessities such as deodorant, hand sanitizer, hand warmers, toothpaste, thank you notes and letters of encouragement.

“They are prisoners of this war,” said Rangel. “They can’t just get to Walmart and buy whatever they want.”

But Rangel said she has only gotten one donation since she began collecting them two weeks ago.

Rangel is asking area residents to donate needed items, including Thermo guard heating pads, hard candy, fruit cups, granola bars, socks, foot powder, Crystal Light and Kool-Aid packets, beef jerky, tuna and crackers, sun block, letters and notes of encouragement.

In Delray Beach, residents can make donations at CityHall, 100NW First Ave.; the Delray Beach Tennis Center, 201W. Atlantic Ave.; the Delray Beach Community Center, 50 NW First Ave.; the Delray Beach Municipal Golf Course, 2200 Highland Ave.; Veterans Park, 802 NE First St.; the Greater Delray Chamber of Commerce, 64 A SE Fifth Ave.; and the Delray Beach Public Library, 100 W. Atlantic Ave.

If you are a resident of Delray Beach or Boca Eaton with a family member serving overseas and would like a package sent to him or her or wish to volunteer to pack items for shipping, contact Rangel at 561-243-7010.

Information on Project Holiday can also be found on the city’s website, www.mydelraybeach.com.