Montgomery sends care packages to city workers deployed overseas

Courtesy of the Montgomery Advertiser:

It’s one of the most sincere ways to tell someone “thank you” — send a box of toys.
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That’s what Montgomery’s first lady Lynn Bright decided when she spearheaded an effort to send care packages to six city employees who have been activated for military service. She worked with a group of other city employees — including her husband, Mayor Bobby Bright — to decide what to include in the gift packs.

“We tried to think of ‘what would you want?’ — especially if you don’t have access to them (the items). We’re trying to offer some fun and necessities,” Lynn Bright said Thursday morning.

The group asked around and found that basketballs and footballs are hot commodities overseas — they became the main ingredient in the gift boxes along with board and trivia games, playing cards and crossword puzzles.

Lynn Bright said she was especially proud to include journals that she hopes the troops will use to document their time in the military so their families can read about it later.

The group also discovered that it doesn’t take much to entertain someone who is stranded in a desert. Susan Driver, a city employee, said that even the newspaper used as stuffing would be read by the troops.

The mayor wrote a letter saying: “On behalf of the City of Montgomery, Ala., thank you for your services to our nation. Please know that many people are praying for you and all others who are on active duty.”

The value of the items in the box hasn’t been tallied up — the group prepared 20 boxes so the Montgomery people could share them with friends.

It’s impossible to estimate the value to the soldiers who will be fighting overseas when the United States celebrates Independence Day.

Lynn Bright said the gifts were mailed Thursday and should reach all the city employees by July 4.

“It feels really good to do that,” Bright said, adding that even a bottle of lotion can go a long way when such a simple thing is hard to find.

The following city employees are currently active duty: Maj. Rod Byrne, Montgomery Police Department; Kenneth L. Johnson, Montgomery Police Department; Willie E. Stewart, Montgomery Police Department; 1st Lt. Greg A. Schnupp, Montgomery Police Department; Sgt. Travis C. Cleveland, Montgomery Communications; Ojedita L. Johnson Jr., Montgomery Fire Department.

Two of them, Johnson and Schnupp, are already overseas. The other four are expected to be there by the end of the month.

Fine example you’re setting, Montgomery! I’d love to see other cities doing the same!