NORWICH – Morrisville State College Norwich Campus Coordinator for Academic Support Services Jeri O’Bryan-Losee, and members of the Student Government Organization (SGO), never expected the “tremendous outpouring of gifts and donations” they’ve received since the Troop Care Package Project was first proposed last spring.
The project, originally scheduled to run for a single semester, has provided troops in Iraq, and now Afghanistan, with games, music, food, toiletries, correspondence and most importantly – Girl Scout cookies, a troop favorite.
O’Bryan-Losee reported that the lucky recipient of this most recent shipment will be Second Platoon Sergeant Jay Symonds of the Army National Guard’s 827th Engineering Company, a 1998 Sherburne-Earlville graduate and active member of the volunteer Fire Department when at home.
“We’re just excited that we can continue sending gift packages to our troops overseas,” said O’Bryan-Losee. “We were especially thrilled to find a Chenango County resident because we know he’ll appreciate hearing from home.”
Local fourth grader and Girl Scout Aubrey Root, who supplied the 100 boxes of cookies headed for Afghanistan, said that “it’s cool, and it’s important to support the troops.”
Norwich Campus Administrative Office Supervisor Nancy Fern, whose two nephews currently serve in the armed forces, agreed with Root, her granddaughter.
“We may not always agree with the wars but you have to support the troops,” she said.
O’Bryan-Losee reiterated that the Troop Care Package Project will continue “as long as donations keep coming in.”
“I can’t even begin to guess how many packages we’ve sent at this point,” stated O’Bryan-Losee. “The community support, both monetarily and through gifts, has been ongoing and excellent.”
For more information, or to make a donation, contact Jeri O’Bryan-Losee at 334-5144.