Middle school students in Hickory, NC, recently prepared almost 500 care packages for North Carolina National Guard soldiers who have been deployed across the world.
The students, who are seventh-graders and eighth-graders at St. Stephens Lutheran School, packed the boxes, which contained $250,000 worth of snacks, toiletries and other items, including notes of appreciation.
The packages were shipped through Priority Mail.
“It was a cool opportunity to help soldiers and put a smile on their faces,” said Hannah Mingus, a seventh-grader.
Army Reserve Command Sgt. Maj. Dean Cline Sr., a local businessman who helped organize the project, said it was an educational experience for the students.
“I wanted to get them involved and to [let them] know that the National Guard leaves home and deploys and we have to take care of them and their families,” Cline said.