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| | | (SPECIAL/www.forsythherald.com) Claire Ayscue lives a child’s dream by diving into a mountain of candy. The candy will be sent to service personnel overseas as part of the “Treats for Troops” program.
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November 20, 2007
Everyone knows that taking candy from a child is a difficult task to accomplish. Sometimes bribery, force or coercion is involved. Shiloh Point Elementary's PTA recently found that gathering candy was surprisingly simple when children were presented with a worthy cause.
Treats for Troops is a program that helps Americans safely send care packages to overseas troops. Recently, local schools have participated in the collection of Halloween candy to be sent to troops deployed in Iraq. Shiloh Point PTA co-chair Cindy Whitney explained how her school got started.
"It began as a community outreach project the PTA decided to do. We sent flyers home with the children, announcing the collection of candy. Parents are always glad to unload some of the sugar their children have amassed," said Whitney.
"Treats for Troops is an excellent cause. It's a small thing we can do as a community to help raise the spirits of soldiers stationed overseas. And we've collected a small mountain of candy."
That the children were generous with their goodies was a sweet reminder of their natural instinct to help someone in need. Children eagerly brought in what "looked like their whole trick-or-treat bags", said Whitney.
"Oh, I forgot. Can I bring it tomorrow?" was a familiar refrain as the PTA accepted candy donation at Shiloh Point. Originally slated for Monday, Nov. 5 and Tuesday, Nov. 6, the candy collection was still going strong through out the week as children unselfishly delivered their prize Snickers, SweetTarts, Kit Kats and Skittles.
More than 300 pounds of candy was donated on Monday, but Tuesday's total was an even heftier 359 pounds.
"I'm sure we had at least 100 pounds on Wednesday, too," said Whitney.
This mammoth mountain of candy took up residence in Whitney's living room, where it is waiting to be packaged into shirt boxes for shipment to deployed soldiers.
"We got a list of about 25 soldiers' addresses from a church. Shiloh Point is also accepting addresses of troops who would like to receive a care package," said Whitney.
Care packages can boost morale and help brighten the day of brave soldiers who are far from home and family. Deborah Crane of Colorado founded Treats for Troops in 2003 as a way to support our troops and to safely ensure that men and women in uniform could receive care packages from home. Packages, which are shipped in accordance with military and postal regulations, are available to be sent year-round for birthdays, Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any occasion at all. Check out their web site at www.treatsfortroops.com for more information.
- www.northfulton.com
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