Waterloo Youth Groups Send Care Packages To Soldiers Overseas

Two Black Hawk County youth groups are hoping to make the holidays a little brighter for some Iowa soldiers who won't be with their families this year.

The Lincoln Links and Black Hawk Stars 4-H Clubs recently mailed 74 military care packages to men and women from Iowa deployed oversees. Each care package was packed full of snacks, food, hygiene, reading and other materials soldiers often miss from home.

According to a news release from Black Hawk County's Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Center in Waterloo, the two clubs solicited donations and raised funds to cover the mailings costs. The groups worked together with friends and community members to serve a need they identified for care items the soldiers miss most. Youth and community volunteers organized, inventoried and packed the donations, while learning about customs and ways to support United States soldiers.

Information in the news released indicated that the care packages will benefit men and women deployed from Waterloo, Hudson, Boone and surrounding communities. Extra packages were sent overseas so the Iowa soldiers could share with everyone in the unit.