Jul 6, 2008 9:26 pm US/Eastern
Volunteers Keep Troops From Being Forgotten
Forgotten Soldiers Outreach Sends Care Packages From Florida To Iraq, Afghanistan
Success has Created More Demand, More Need For Volunteers
WEST PALM BEACH (CBS4) ―
The 4th of July is all about patriotism and for a group of Palm Beach County volunteers there was no better way to show their patriotism than by setting aside fireworks and barbecues to pack care packages for hundreds of US troops in Iraq. Now, they're asking for more help to serve more soldiers.
The group behind the volunteer effort is known as Forgotten Soldiers Outreach, founded 5 years ago by Lynelle Chauncey Zelnar. Zelnar said the idea for the care packages began in 2003 when a friend asked her to pray for her son who was serving in Iraq.
"I said I'll do more than that," she said. "I started sending Chris and his buddies packages."
It was a small effort to start, but as word spread, donations and letters of support started pouring in. Zelnar and her husband founded the non-profit group that mails out at least 500 packages a month.
"We have sent well over 25-thousand care packages to individual soldiers," she said.
What the troops get is a care package which costs about $20 to assemble, and typically includes snack foods, toiletries, and magazines.
It's addressed "to any American soldier…" and provides a little but of homes for soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Zelnar said the program has become a victim of its own success. As word has spread, she's been asked to provide more packages, but needs both funds to purchase the contents and volunteers to create the kits.
Some volunteers do more than create kits. Charles Debevec uses his boat to raise money at fishing tournaments. It was only after joining "forgotten soldiers" that he realized his soldier son was one of the first to receive the care packages.
"We enjoyed the beautiful holiday this weekend, the fourth of July," he said. "If it wasn't for our troops that are fighting and keeping our freedom. we need to make sure that we take care of these guys.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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