Walmart shoppers support their troops with care packages
Grocery lists grew an item or two longer for Walmart shoppers who wanted to support their troops on Veterans Day.
As shoppers walked through the supermarkets doors, they were handed lists of suggested items for care packages that would go to military veterans. Nearby, veterans stood in uniform by a military truck, ready to receive donations and answer questions.
This was part of a fundraiser called "Stuff the Truck," which was held from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Nov. 6 outside of Mount Pleasant's Walmart. All food and school supplies will be given as care packages to student veterans and those deployed overseas.
Items included notebooks, pencils and three-ringed binders for students.
Chris Stanton, the Veteran Resource Representative for Mid-Michigan and Kirtland, said the generosity of community members is much appreciated by recipients.
"When (veterans) come back from their deployments and start for college, it usually takes a while for their G.I. benefits to kick in," Stanton said. "Generally what happens is they have to come up with the money to pay for their own books, papers, pens and pencils out of their own pockets."
One of the goals of the fundraiser was to help make that transition a little easier.
Harrison resident Stephanie Lockwood came to Walmart with her kids to buy groceries but ended up donating candy and jerky to the cause as well.
"They are fighting for us and that seems like the least we can do, give them some stuff to make them feel like they are at home," Lockwood said.
The veterans had filled five shopping carts with donated items by 2 p.m.
Morgan Damrow, a member of the U.S. Army Guard, took the day off work so he could volunteer as a part of the fundraiser. He remembered getting care packages while stationed in Afghanistan from 2013 to 2014 and what that felt like.
"I remember getting a lot when we were overseas, so I like to try to try and get something together to help out too," Damrow said.
He said cards from kids were his favorite thing to receive while overseas.
"They would write us Christmas cards and always say something really funny or cute, so that was probably a favorite," Damrow said.
The fundraiser was held not just in Mount Pleasant, but four other Michigan cities at the same time, which included Lansing, Canton, Petoskey and Marquette.
The Michigan Veteran Education Initiative partnered with the Student Veterans of America chapters at Central Michigan University, Mid-Michigan Community College and Kirtland to put on the event.
