Homegrown Charity Packs Compassion Into Every Box For Soldiers

MAHOPAC, NY — With the deadline approaching for holiday care packages, United for the Troops put the word out seeking volunteers for packing day Nov. 2 — and the 250 slots were filled in two hours. That's even faster than founder Jim Rathschmidt had estimated.

It's a sign of how the Rathschmidts' homegrown effort has just grown and grown.

In 2007, they learned from their son Luke that not everyone else deployed in Iraq got care packages from home. So the Rathschmidts stood in front of stores in Putnam County, New York asking for donations, and got enough money to send 200 packages.

Since then, more than 1,000 volunteers have helped United for the Troops send out more than 21,000 care packages.

"My wife and I have said over the past 12 years 'what happened?'" Rathschmidt told Patch. "It's just a great community story and I think it's as simple as that — about people wanting to help in so many different ways. We don't have any political affiliation, which attracts a lot of people. it's not about the war. We're all volunteers and all the money that comes in stays with United for the Troops. When we get pictures back from our men and women opening the packages and reading the cards we publish them. Our volunteers have become very attached to that process."

Every recipient receives two boxes — one of toiletries and one of food.

The system is such that whether it's the big holiday shipment or a little one — and United for the Troops ships packages several times a year — the volunteer makes a personal connection.

"They get attached to that box, they are connected with it," Rathschmidt said. "That's their box from the time they start. It's a gift from them, it's not just a brown box with a bunch of stuff in it. It could be a whole family of volunteers taking care of that box."

On the top, before closing and sealing each box, United for the Troops puts in cards and letters, most made as projects by school kids and senior citizens. "We get 10,000 of them for November — we get 10 per box," Rathschmidt said.

United for the Troops has to have people stationed at that station, he said, getting volunteers to move on because they can't stop reading the letters and cards.

Once when a volunteer finished a box and took it up to be labeled and sealed, it was her son's name.

"You can't make this stuff up," Rathschmidt said. "Of course we stopped the entire process to let everyone know. The world is such a smaller place now. When we get the letters and the videos and pictures coming back it's just incredible."

Packing day for the 2019 "Defending the Holidays" effort is Nov. 30.

You may not be able to pack this month. But you can still make a difference. Here's what's needed:

These are the current drop-off locations:

• 16 Bonniello Drive, Mahopac, NY 10541
• Corner Car Care , 1999 Lexington Ave., Mohegan Lake, NY 10547
• 34 Gleneida Ave. Carmel, NY 10512

Plus there is a box near the exit door at the Stop & Shop on Route 6 in Mahopac for donations. Pull something out of your cart as you leave — you can get another on another day.

If you're not nearby, here are other ways to help.

By the way, the charity's annual gala is Nov. 23 at Villa Barone Hilltop Manor in Mahopac, New York. Click here for information.

PHOTOS courtesy United for the Troops