Group lacks postage to send care packages overseas

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

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Boxes pile up in the group's Wesley Chapel warehouse. Watch the story Watch Video

PASCO COUNTY (Bay News 9) -- A group that sends soldiers a special treat for Christmas has no shortage of people donating items.

The problem is getting the packed boxes stamped and out the door.

"We are lacking the postage," said Bob Williams, founder of Support the Troops. "What people don't realize is if I get a 40,000 pound truck in that's fantastic and it fills up the warehouse, but it costs $40,000 to send it over."

J.B. Gaskins, a Major in the Army Reserves, got care packages from the group's warehouse in Wesley Chapel while he was deployed.

"Every time we get something from home, it is special," he said, especially this time of year. "It's hard to distinguish holidays. It does become a little more emotional during the holidays because you want to be with your family and your families want to be with you, but Bob softens that blow for every service member that's serving over there in the Middle East."

Williams' goal is to ship out as many boxes to the Middle East before Christmas. So, if he doesn't have the financial help to do that, he puts it on his credit card.

"Which gets to be really ugly this time of year," he said.

More Information

Group's website
Support The Troops
PO Box 7560
Wesley Chapel, FL 33544
Make checks payable to "Postmaster"
1-800-367-3591
E-mail TV reporter Kathryn Simmons