Oct 12, 2009 11:58 pm US/Eastern
Non-Profit That Assists Soldiers Needs Your Help
With Holidays Fast Approaching, Staten Island Project Homefront Hoping The Public Can Make Needed Donations
STATEN ISLAND (CBS) ―
A non-profit agency dedicated to helping soldiers overseas has begun perhaps its toughest mission, dealing with a drop in donations in a tough economy. And as CBS 2 HD found out, time is running out.
While some on Staten Island are thinking about Halloween, volunteers with Project Homefront are concerned about Christmas.
"Last year was bad. This is horrible," said the Project's Jack Semich.
The group is dedicated to sending care packages to the troops fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"First aid items, everybody gets one of them," Semich said.
But this year, after hundreds of thank you letters and smiles from miles away, this mission is hungry for help.
There are enough food, snack, and candy bags that'll make up a 200-box shipment that goes out at the end of the month. But next month's shipment, the one that arrives in time for Christmas, that's the real concern because the food pantry is empty.
"Until now, I tell you we've been doing great and now it's at a standstill," said Debbie Parsons.
Parsons is a volunteer intimately familiar with the care package quandary. One of her sons just got back from Iraq. Another is still in Afghanistan. He fills in the homefront on the popularity of the packages.
"He said 'Ma, I never seen my buddies feel so full of life. It was really wonderful,'" Parsons said.
Wonderful but in danger of disappointing, thanks to, among other things, a belt-tightening economy.
"I think people are forgetting about our troops. People are forgetting about what's going on in Iraq and, more so, in Afghanistan right now," Loretta Giamboi said.
Right now, the Project has plenty of items like razors, stationary, toiletries and even DVDs. What's needed now is something for a soldier's stomach.
"These are things they want. These are the things they ask for," Giamboi said.
Now a community is being asked for help.
"I'm hoping people are able to reach deep in their pockets," Semich said.
To help make this a mission accomplished.
Since it began in 2003, Staten Island Project Homefront said it has helped 58,000 soldiers. If you want to help, please click
here.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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