NEWBERRY — The Newberry College chapter of Young Americans for Liberty is holding a care package and thank-you note drive for active-duty service members. The effort is part of the organization’s “Bring Them Home” event series, designed to educate students about U.S. foreign policy and highlight the cost of war from both a financial and human perspective.
“We believe in a less interventionist foreign policy, within constitutional limits, within our financial means, and within absolute necessity,” said Jay Salter, the chapter’s president and third-year political science major. “Currently the U.S. is involved in nine overseas conflicts. ‘Bring Them Home’ is all about supporting the troops and ending the wars. To support our troops, we are assembling care packages for our men and women in harm’s way, and we’re thanking them for their sacrifices.” The Newberry College group is one of over 900 YAL chapters across the country holding this spring activism event.”
Items requested for care packages include, but are not limited to:
• travel-size toiletries (toothpaste, mouthwash, deodorant, lip balm, etc.).
• socks (preferably black, brown, green, tan; not white).
• drink mix packets (single serve, Kool-Aid, Crystal Light, etc.).
• 4-pack batteries, AA and AAA.
• condiment packets (hot sauce, ketchup, etc.).
• non-perishable snacks and chewing gum.
• entertainment items, including DVDs, CDs, new magazines and paperback books.
Items must be new, unopened, and must have a shelf-life/expiration date of at least six months from the date of receipt.
Care package items can be donated at the Wessels Library circulation desk. The library’s hours are as follows:
Monday—Thursday: 7:30 a.m.—10 p.m.
Friday: 7:30 a.m.—5 p.m.
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: 4-10 p.m.
Donations will be accepted through Monday, April 9.
“In addition to comfort items from home, we’re also collecting notes and letters of gratitude. For deployed troops, these are often the most cherished items received,” Salter said. “These are essentially thank-you notes, telling the recipient how much we appreciate their dedication and sacrifice. These can be delivered with items at Wessels Library.”
“We appreciate any and all contributions, no matter how small,” he added. “It’s the least we can do for these men and women who have already given so much.”
Young Americans for Liberty (YAL) is the largest, most active, and fastest-growing pro-liberty organization on America’s college campuses. With more than 900 YAL chapters and 308,927 youth activists nationwide, YAL seeks to identify, educate, train and mobilize young people committed to winning on principles of limited government, free markets, and individual freedom. For more information, visit yaliberty.org.