Sending Love is a fundraising organization that focuses on showing appreciation for the people who sacrifice their lives every day to keep this country free. This organization gives the opportunity to send love and appreciation over the oceans to deployed troops and local first responders. 

Spring of 2017 crept up on me and it was eventually the Lenten season. My ten-year-old self could not muster up an idea of what I should give up for the next 40 days. I came to the conclusion that I should undertake a service project instead. This project ended up being sending packages to my uncle’s platoon who were deployed in Iraq. 

Almost a year later, I received cards of appreciation that brought me to tears. One soldier sent me a picture of his cat saying, “This is not much but I wanted to give you something to show my appreciation.” 

Hearing appreciation for these simple packages inspired me. Since then, the thought has always been in the back of my mind but nothing came into action until this school year. The support from several teachers at SJA, friends, and family helped me to get to the point where I am today. 

These men and women decide to protect their country by risking their lives then are ripped away from their families for months and sometimes years. These packages and letters give these men and women a sense of comfort on the battlefield. It brings a little piece of home overseas to their hearts. 

Hayes Vahling, my uncle, who has been deployed twice to Jordan and Iraq, was gushing about how the soldiers love and appreciate these packages. 

“These packages bring a sense of home to the soldiers who are all alone overseas,” Vahling said. 

Local police departments also will be receiving packages and baked goods. The officers serve the community and make sure that our towns and city is protected. First responders do not know what situation they are put into until they are in the middle of it. They accept this because they are protecting citizens and keeping the streets safe. 

Please consider donating or purchasing a sweatshirt so we can send love and give these men and women a sense of security and home while they are overseas.