Winter nights in Afghanistan can be quite cold so the hand and foot warmers Cpl. Angel Goodlad received in an Operation Overseas care package were a welcomed gift.
The Thunder Bay soldier’s package included everything from gum to board games, which Goodlad said was great to fill downtime.
"It boosted my morale, that’s for sure," she said. "It’s nice knowing of all the support coming from home."
Goodlad was on hand Tuesday at Quality Market on Golf Links Road to launch the fifth annual Operation Overseas, a project that collects donated luxury items and letters of well wishes to send in care packages to soldiers serving in Afghanistan over the holiday season.
The project was created by Galaxina Renaud in 2006 after her boyfriend Pte. Josh Klukie was killed in Afghanistan by a roadside bomb. It grew from her sending a couple dozen boxes that first year to 183 boxes travelling overseas in 2009.
Although Renaud left Thunder Bay this spring to attend school in Nova Scotia, she passed the reins to Alana Bencharski, who said she didn’t hesitate when Renaud asked her to take over.
While Bencharski only met Renaud two years ago, she had known Klukie since kindergarten and the project always struck a chord in her heart.
"Last year I got on board with Operation Overseas and instantly fell in love with (Renaud) and her heart and what she was doing," Bencharski said.
The ideal kinds of items are things like magazines and novels, playing cards, candy, facial tissues, socks, sunglasses, hand sanitizer, sunscreen, lip balm and spices. Monetary donations are also accepted and will be used to buy items to send.
Bencharski said Operation Overseas aims to put a smile on a soldier’s face and to take their mind off the task at hand for just a few moments.
And while they sent 183 boxes last year, they’re hoping to reach 200 this December.
Goodlad said she hopes to see the program continue to grow.
"It’s the support that helps get us by through the rough times, knowing everyone is behind us," she said.
Items can be dropped off by Dec. 3 at both Quality Market locations and at Cash Converters on Memorial Ave. For more information contact Bencharski at abenchar@lakeheadu.ca.
