Help 13-Year-Old Send Care Packages To Sky Soldier Sister's Unit

WEST NYACK, NY — An eighth-grader has embarked on an ambitious and generous project to send essentials kits to everyone in his sister's Army unit in time for Christmas.

Sam Rolnick is a 2nd lieutenant in the 173rd Airborne Brigade, nicknamed the Sky Soldiers. They're based in Vicenza in northern Italy, where the coronavirus hit so hard it made global news.

"Operation Santa: Sam’s Soldiers" is her younger brother Trey's effort to put together care packages of toiletries and basic winter essentials, such as blankets, hats, and, gloves for the 75 or so members of the unit, who have been in the field with little access to such items. He's raising money to buy the essentials through GoFundMe.

"Some of them are 18, 19," the Felix Festa Middle School student told Patch. "That could be me in four to five years. They must miss their families terribly. I started this just thinking they could use some holiday cheer."

When the pandemic in Italy hit the news, "we were absolutely terrified," Trey said. "But it seems like they have coped through very well. They are taking all the safety precautions."

However, they're basically locked down, said Dawn, Trey and Sam's mom. "Some of the poor troops are stuck in barracks." Plus, with travel restrictions and the need to quarantine for two weeks before and another two weeks afterward, there's not enough time for visits.

"My son and daughter are 10 years apart but really very, very close," Dawn said. Born and bred in Rockland, Sam is a graduate of Clarkstown High School South, where she played varsity lacrosse.

The family hopes to pack and ship the essentials kits after Thanksgiving.

Trey thought up the project after the family sent Sam a care package and he asked her on FaceTime how it measured up to what others were getting.

"Trey asked and she said 'most are not as fortunate as I am,'" said Dawn. "Trey came up with this idea, and at first we were a little skeptical. He went ahead with it and hopefully we'll make a difference."

They're more than halfway to their $7,500 goal. Click here to help.