Care packages for the troops: Anacortes mom on a mission

Posted on November 20, 2018 by Dave Walker

For active military members stationed overseas, a package from home can mean the world. Especially during the holidays.

It lets them know someone cares. And that’s why the folks at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9301 in Lynden have been working on putting together care packages for our troops who are still stationed all over the world.

But, as you might remember from the news, someone broke in through a window earlier this month, busted the door to a back room, and raided several shelves stocked with stuff meant for the troops. They also stole a pile of donated cash and did more than 2,000 dollars worth of damage.

Well, when Hollie Brand heard that story, she decided to do something about it. Hollie lives in Anacortes, and she ’s making it her mission to get those packages to the troops anyway.

A little background: Hollie’s son served in Iraq. 15 years ago, she sent him a care package… and her son asked if it was okay if he shared his bounty with his fellow Marines.

That’s when she realized how much a little something from home means to the troops. So, she sent more care packages.

Over the next four years, Hollie organized and sent more than 16-hundred more care packages over a four year period.

And now, she’s doing it again. She reached out on Facebook, asking for help to re-stock the shelves at the VFW in Lynden… and get those care packages out as planned.

If you’d like to help, cash donations can be made directly to to VFW Post 9301 at 7011 Hannegan Road, Lynden, WA 98264. Every dollar collect will help pay for shipping costs. And supplies can be dropped off either there… or at 812 Commercial Avenue in Anacortes.

A GoFundMe page has also been set up to help the post recoup financial losses from the break-in.

Items needed:

All types of granola bars, protein/energy bars

Beef jerky

Snack-size nuts, trail mix, dried fruit, sunflower seeds

Gum, breath mints

Instant coffee (Single servings)

Powdered drink mixes (Single servings)

Tuna or salmon foil packs

Cookies (Single servings)

Microwave popcorn

Neosporin ointment, A&D ointment, foot powder