Candy for our Troops

              I am often asked how I became involved with Candy For Our Troops. In 2010, I came across a newspaper article promoting the project which was run by a truly wonderful woman named Mirka Fatschel and hosted by Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Freedom, PA. At that time, I was the leader of a Girl Scout troop and thought it would be a great service project for the girls to participate in. The girls donated some of their candy along with other items and we took them to packing night. After sorting donations and packing boxes, the girls, and adults chaperoning, all agreed what a great time we had. We decided then that we would return the following year to help again.

 

             When I reached out to Mirka in 2011 to inquire on the packing date, she told me, with a heavy heart, that there would be no packing night this year. She explained that she needed to step away from the project and no one had stepped forward to fill her shoes. Sometimes in life we are drawn to things and we can’t fully explain why. This was one of those moments for me. I agreed to step in and take over for Mirka. This project touched my soul. I was drawn to it. I felt it was very important to continue reaching out to the men and women serving overseas to let them know it wasn’t just their loved ones who appreciate what they are doing.

 

            English Lutheran Church agreed to host the annual packing night and things moved quickly from there. I reached out to all of the collection sites Mirka had established and they were all gracious enough to continue working with me in order to keep the project alive. I was also able to set up some new collection sites. Packing night came and so did many volunteers. It was amazing! At the end of the night, we had packed 320 boxes! The thing that touched me the most, and still today, is the generosity of the people. So many people help in so many different ways and each way they help is truly important.

 

           This is now my 5th year (2015) organizing this project and it has grown in many different ways. Over the last four years, a total of 813 packages have been sent overseas. I am now able to utilize this project to help seniors in the Seneca Valley School District complete their required Senior Project for graduation. I also have established a Facebook page, and with the help of an SV senior, a website has been created. We hope to also add a twitter and Instagram page as well. The website and social media pages are beneficial not just for community members to stay in touch with the project, but troops serving overseas can really see how they are loved, missed, and appreciated even by people who don’t know them.

 

              There are so many people I can endlessly thank for supporting this project. First, and foremost, Mirka. This started as a small neighborhood gesture of kindness for her neighbor serving overseas and has grown into a full scale, multiple communities’ project. My family has been beyond incredible. Every year, without question, they are standing next to me asking what they can do. Then, there are businesses and clubs that send in monetary donations and allow for collection sites to be set-up. Finally, I want to thank each and every individual that has reached out in whatever way possible to support CFOT. I simply cannot do this without you.

 

Blessings and Peace,

Jennifer Kaufman