Care package boxing day
Volunteers busy with Operation: Care and Comfort
SAN JOSE — To civilian eyes it might not look like much — a little tube of toothpaste, baby wipes, Top Ramen and a comic book — but for soldiers serving overseas such treasures are a rare touch of comfort.
“It just lets them know that people in America care about them,” said U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Brian Brown, who was at Municipal Stadium on Sunday along with hundreds of other volunteers, putting together care packages destined for the Middle East. “There are people over there who don’t have a wife or kids at home sending them packages. This tells them that people legitimately care.”
It was the fifth year that the San Jose Giants partnered with Operation: Care and Comfort, a local nonprofit co-founded by Julie DeMaria. Since 2003, the group has mailed more than a million pounds of products to troops around the globe.
HOW TO HELP
Operation: Care and Comfort takes donations at several sites in the South Bay. Some needed items: n Snacks such as individually wrapped hard candies, and small packages of trail mix, nuts, cookies or chips n Personal hygiene items and toiletries n Movies, games and books n Cards and letters Monetary donations are also welcome. Go to www. occ-usa. org for more details.