A Voice from the Eastern Door
A Voice from the Eastern Door
Volunteers Shawna Cook, Landon Cook, Leona Cook, Janique Odjick, Sally Hamelin, Marsha White, and Debbie Jacobs.
Janique Odjick and Sally Hamelin next to a full table of donations awaiting packaging.
Volunteer and auxiliary member Shawna Cook putting together a care package.
Snacks piled high for soldiers overseas.
A total of 31 boxes will be shipped off to Iraq and Afghanistan from the community of Akwesasne. L-R: Elaine Scott, Lena Lamb, Landon Cook, Leona Cook, Elaine Cook and Shawna Cook, mother of a US soldier. Seated is Marsha White.
Marsha White, getting everything sorted to pack care packages. She has been helping for over 5 years, along with many others, in this community event.
Bonnie McDonald, new First Americans IGA manager with Janique Odjick, the new coordinator for the care package campaign. IGA donated $350.00 worth of goodies for the men and women deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.
Volunteers Mary Wheeler, Karen Hemlock, Emily Tarbell and Betty Lamendola showed up to support the care package effort by sorting items for mailing.
Marsha White, Cecelia LaFrance, Sally Hamelin, Leona Cook and Janique Odjick. Sally is the Chaplain for the American Legion Post #1479 and offered a prayer for the helpers, for everyone who generously donated and to all the veterans, men and women who are currently serving for a safe return home and to their families.
Members of the American Legion Post 1479 auxiliary have been busy collecting donations for care packages for soldiers deployed overseas during the holidays. Community members are asked to donate various items such as books, snacks, toiletries, baby wipes, nail clippers, etc… The organizers have some names of soldiers from the North Country who will be receiving care packages directly and any additional items will go to 4 chaplains who can identify soldiers in need. The American Legion will be paying for 100 percent of the postage for care packages sent. Community activities surrounding the care packages include shopping for items, and sorting and packaging donations at the American Legion in Hogansburg.
Volunteer and auxiliary member Shawna Cook understands the importance of letting soldiers know they are appreciated and thought of during the holidays as she has a daughter in the service who is not overseas but will be spending the holidays away from home for the first time.
The first round of packages will be sent out Nov. 23 and another on Dec. 7, so there is still time if you would like to donate. If you are interested in volunteering you can call Janique Odjick, auxiliary president American Legion post 1479 at (517) 651-07301 or Debbie Jacobs (518) 358-3083. Donations can be dropped off at the Legion in Hogansburg.
Photos by Mary La France and
Debbie Cook-Jacobs
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