Brotherly Love: Sending Philadelphia To The Troops
By Ukee Washington
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- If you're going to get presents overseas by Christmas, you have to start early! So a couple hundred of Lower Merion School District students, military members, and volunteers hurried to Kelly's Taproom in Bryn Mawr to pack presents for Pennsylvania and New Jersey soldiers in Afghanistan and east Africa.
Freddie Klevan started this project. "You do have a fair amount of soldiers that are in areas that are fairly remote and they don't get supplies like this often, " said Freddie. "It's really like Christmas to them."
The boxes are crammed with donated toiletries and treats, everything from toilet paper to Tastykakes to leftover Halloween candy. The schoolchildren even painted the outside of some boxes with winter scenes. It might be the only snowman a soldier sees this winter.
"So this is just a wonderful thing, doing something positive and giving us a happy memory," said Melissa Adams. This year, these packages are going over in memory of her brother, SFC. Brent Adams of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, killed in action in Iraq nine years ago Monday.
His mother, Barbara Benard, said, "He was loving and he was very humble, and he always took case of his soldiers. He put them first."
"It's so nice especially to give back to other soldiers who are away from home this time of year," said Melissa. "It gives us a great feeling to know they're doing it in his honor as well."
That night, they finished more than 280 packages. It costs about $25 each to send them overseas, so people have been donating money throughout the year to make sure the soldiers have a happy holiday season.
To help, go to: http://www.philatreatsfortroops.com/
