(Oct. 6, 2016) Star Charities’ annual “Holiday Gifts for our Soldiers” collection, a longtime labor of love for Ocean Pines resident Anna Foultz, kicked off Oct. 1.
Since 2003, the drive has collected nonperishable items to send to U.S. soldiers serving overseas, thanks to Foultz and her late husband, Carl, a World War II veteran who served in China, Burma and India.
“When he was [serving], he noticed how hard it was to get toilet paper and all kinds of toiletries he couldn’t buy, so he was worried about the soldiers,” Foultz said. “He wanted to do something and he said, ‘I think we should start a collection.’”
Linda Dearing, owner of Copy Central, was a year-one supporter of the drive and helped package and box all of the items that are picked up each year by the National Guard.
Since 2006, American Legion Post 166 in Ocean City also has aided in the effort, and Foultz now has a committee of volunteers that helps to plan, set up and carry out the annual collection.
“The first time we did it, we went to the Ocean Pines Library with one container. The next thing you know we were getting all kinds of calls,” Foultz said. “People said, ‘well we want a container where we live.’ I even got a call from Delaware, but I told them we’re just staying in our area.”
This year, large black collection containers have been placed at the Worcester County library branches in Berlin, Ocean Pines and Ocean City, as well as at the Ocean Pines Community Center, the Ocean City VFW and American Legion Post 166.
Suggested contributions include powdered drinks like Crystal Light, as well as Gatorade, coffee, tea, chewing gum, canned fruits and nuts, beef jerky, sunglasses, suntan lotion and cotton socks.
On the list of toiletries are toilet paper, dark hand towels and washcloths, and foot powder. Board games, playing cards and small, paperback books are also collected.
Do not send liquids, perishable items, or glass.
Last year, Foultz said, the National Guard spent a week finding a truck large enough to haul all the items that had been temporarily stored in her garage.
“It gives me a thrill to keep this going – it just makes me so happy,” Foultz said. “My heart goes out to the soldiers and I’m just thinking, would Carl be proud of me when he sees me doing all this stuff? A lot of people would have stopped, but I’m so busy with everything else that I figure I’ve got to do this for my husband, because I love him so much. And he was so sincere about it, it brings a tear to my eye.
“I’ll keep doing this as long as I’m alive,” she continued. “After that, I don’t know what will happen. But it gives me great pleasure and the girls in my committee do such a great job. They’re happy to do it and each year they help make it even bigger.”
The Holiday Gifts for our Soldiers drive runs through Oct. 30. To donate to the effort, send checks, payable to “Holiday Gifts for our Soldiers,” to Star Charities, c/o Anna Foultz, 127 High Sheriff Trail, Ocean Pines, Maryland 21811.
For more information, call Foultz at 410-641-7667, or Ocean Pines Association Director of Marketing and Public Relations Teresa Travatello at 410-641-7717, Ext. 3006.
Since 2003, the drive has collected nonperishable items to send to U.S. soldiers serving overseas, thanks to Foultz and her late husband, Carl, a World War II veteran who served in China, Burma and India.
“When he was [serving], he noticed how hard it was to get toilet paper and all kinds of toiletries he couldn’t buy, so he was worried about the soldiers,” Foultz said. “He wanted to do something and he said, ‘I think we should start a collection.’”
Linda Dearing, owner of Copy Central, was a year-one supporter of the drive and helped package and box all of the items that are picked up each year by the National Guard.
Since 2006, American Legion Post 166 in Ocean City also has aided in the effort, and Foultz now has a committee of volunteers that helps to plan, set up and carry out the annual collection.
“The first time we did it, we went to the Ocean Pines Library with one container. The next thing you know we were getting all kinds of calls,” Foultz said. “People said, ‘well we want a container where we live.’ I even got a call from Delaware, but I told them we’re just staying in our area.”
This year, large black collection containers have been placed at the Worcester County library branches in Berlin, Ocean Pines and Ocean City, as well as at the Ocean Pines Community Center, the Ocean City VFW and American Legion Post 166.
Suggested contributions include powdered drinks like Crystal Light, as well as Gatorade, coffee, tea, chewing gum, canned fruits and nuts, beef jerky, sunglasses, suntan lotion and cotton socks.
On the list of toiletries are toilet paper, dark hand towels and washcloths, and foot powder. Board games, playing cards and small, paperback books are also collected.
Do not send liquids, perishable items, or glass.
Last year, Foultz said, the National Guard spent a week finding a truck large enough to haul all the items that had been temporarily stored in her garage.
“It gives me a thrill to keep this going – it just makes me so happy,” Foultz said. “My heart goes out to the soldiers and I’m just thinking, would Carl be proud of me when he sees me doing all this stuff? A lot of people would have stopped, but I’m so busy with everything else that I figure I’ve got to do this for my husband, because I love him so much. And he was so sincere about it, it brings a tear to my eye.
“I’ll keep doing this as long as I’m alive,” she continued. “After that, I don’t know what will happen. But it gives me great pleasure and the girls in my committee do such a great job. They’re happy to do it and each year they help make it even bigger.”
The Holiday Gifts for our Soldiers drive runs through Oct. 30. To donate to the effort, send checks, payable to “Holiday Gifts for our Soldiers,” to Star Charities, c/o Anna Foultz, 127 High Sheriff Trail, Ocean Pines, Maryland 21811.
For more information, call Foultz at 410-641-7667, or Ocean Pines Association Director of Marketing and Public Relations Teresa Travatello at 410-641-7717, Ext. 3006.